Tourist destinations worry about "losing points" because of waste

Recently, the environment in Mui Ne has been threatened by some people carelessly throwing trash into the sea.

Waste from the ocean, from tourism activities, from local living and production... makes the destination of Mui Ne - Binh Thuan and the Phan Thiet Bay area in general increasingly polluted.

Mui Ne - Binh Thuan is associated with the image of a poetic, bustling beach. However, recently, the environment in this area has been threatened by some people carelessly throwing trash into the sea. This behavior contributes to the serious situation of the current coastal pollution by ocean waste.

Almost "powerless"

In mid-October 2024, public opinion was stirred up and reacted to images on social media of employees of the Jeju coffee shop in the tourist destination of Mui Ne, Phan Thiet City throwing plastic cups onto the beach while cleaning.

A few days later, tourists continued to share clips on social media about a three-wheeled vehicle carrying plastic bags, believed to be garbage, dumped directly into the sea. Most recently, employees of a resort in Phu Hai ward, Phan Thiet city illegally dumped garbage on the beach...

Although local authorities have punished many cases of littering in Mui Ne beach, this situation still recurs.

Mui Ne has long been one of the attractive tourist destinations. However, in recent years, the natural beauty of Mui Ne is seriously threatened by ocean waste.

In the Mui Ne fishing village area - a place that many tourists come to visit and take pictures - layers of garbage including plastic bags, foam boxes, plastic of all kinds, and even seafood shells... - are piled up on the shore after the waves during the South wind season.

Waste - from the ocean, from tourism activities, from local people's daily lives... - not only affects tourists' experience right on the beach but also impacts the tourism image of Mui Ne.

Images of polluted beaches shared on social media have made many tourists apprehensive. This has had a significant impact on Mui Ne - a tourist and resort destination that was once loved by many locals and tourists.

Mui Ne Ward launched a campaign to clean up the beach

According to Mr. Bui Ngoc Lam, Chairman of Mui Ne Ward People's Committee, the locality is almost "powerless" in the face of the situation of waste from the sea, especially when there is a south wind. The large amount of waste at sea is partly due to the poor environmental protection awareness of some people and fishermen in coastal areas.

Mr. Lam acknowledged: "To solve the problem of ocean waste, we cannot just blame one locality. As for Mui Ne, we are planning a propaganda campaign to change fishermen's awareness. The ward will equip trash bins for boat owners to use when operating at sea."

In addition, Mr. Lam said that at seafood gathering areas, the People's Committee of Mui Ne Ward will plan garbage disposal areas for people to dispose of plastic bags, seafood shells, and garbage in the right places. On the other hand, the government will also regularly clean up garbage, combining propaganda to raise awareness among people and tourists.

Strengthen propaganda and punishment

Binh Thuan has a 192 km long coastline, mainly consisting of calm bays. During the annual southwest monsoon season, the coastline here receives a large amount of ocean waste, polluting many beaches.

According to Dr. Le Dinh Mau, Institute of Oceanography - Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, Phan Thiet Bay coast has been washed ashore by garbage for decades. This situation has not improved, negatively affecting local tourism activities, especially Mui Ne and neighboring areas.

Dr. Mau said that the southwest monsoon season (July to September every year) is also the rainy season in Phan Thiet. This is the time when the most household waste and plastic waste from Cai River and Ca Ty River flows into Phan Thiet sea. Most of this waste will drift along the shore to the Ham Tien - Mui Ne area and wash up on the beach.

Mui Ne Ward launched a campaign to clean up the beach

Meanwhile, offshore, the amount of waste from the southern sea areas (La Gi town, Binh Thuan province; Vung Tau city, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province...) follows the ocean currents, contributing to the increase in the amount of waste in Phan Thiet Bay. In addition, the fact that some residents and tourists carelessly throw waste into the sea is also a significant cause of the increase in ocean waste.

Mr. Le Thanh Son, Vice Chairman of Phan Thiet City People's Committee, said that to deal with ocean waste, the locality regularly coordinates with Binh Thuan Urban Environment - Services Joint Stock Company, tourism businesses and People's Committees of coastal wards and communes to collect it. In recent years, Phan Thiet City authorities have increased propaganda and education activities on environmental protection; advising people and tourists not to litter. The detection and punishment of organizations and individuals who intentionally throw waste into the sea are also carried out more frequently to increase deterrence.

Waste treatment plant operating at half capacity

According to the leader of the People's Committee of Phan Thiet City, the city currently has about 400 tons of household waste to be processed every day. However, less than half of that is processed through the plant.

Specifically, after 8 years of construction, Phan Thiet Waste Treatment Plant has only operated 2/4 units, equivalent to handling about 100 - 150 tons of waste per day of the city. The remaining waste must be burned and buried at Binh Tu landfill, Tien Thanh commune. This landfill was previously planned to close but now has to continue to "strain" to receive waste because Phan Thiet Waste Treatment Plant has not yet operated at full capacity.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/diem-den-du-lich-lo-mat-diem-vi-rac-thai-196241103190032892.htm