Former Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Le Tri Thanh dived into Cu Lao Cham to inspect the ecosystem restoration work - Photo: BD
In 2009, Cu Lao Cham was listed as a World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO. After 15 years, Hoi An authorities believe that conservation is the smart way of tourism that Hoi An has succeeded in.
The more you protect the environment, the higher your income.
Cu Lao Cham is located about 20 minutes by canoe from the mainland in Hoi An. With only over 2,500 people, in a small radius, why is Cu Lao Cham so crowded with tourists and considered a model of biodiversity conservation?
The answer begins with the fact that before tourism, Hoi An was one step ahead with the policy of not using plastic bags on the island.
Former Hoi An City Party Secretary Nguyen Su said it was not easy to convince the people. But for the future, Hoi An leaders at that time were determined to do it.
Mr. Tran Thai Do - owner of A Dong Silk - at that time sponsored the purchase of shopping bags and long-lasting bags for people to go to the market instead of putting things in plastic bags.
Committing that giving up plastic bags and protecting the environment is like filling one’s own rice pot, the government has convinced the people to join in. Cu Lao Cham has made a splash with the first plastic bag-free island model in Vietnam.
But protecting the environment without bringing benefits to people is not sustainable and not practical.
The story of Cu Lao Cham's current prosperity and change is determined by the viewpoint, vision and way of doing tourism. So how has Cu Lao Cham done tourism?
Anything can be a tourism product.
Measuring the size of stone crabs for exploitation in Cu Lao Cham - Photo: TH
When going to Cu Lao Cham, the most popular tour for tourists is the tour up the forest and down to the sea. The environment is clean, neat, tidy and professionally perfect in every street, alley, beach...
Cu Lao Cham has two special things that visitors want to find: nature and community.
In addition to the management apparatus, the government also takes advantage of tools, projects, and regulations to increase protection of the sea and forests.
Cu Lao Cham has more than 2,500 people living together. But taking a branch or vegetable from the island home is not a simple matter. Everything has regulations, lists, and approvals. The important thing is that people accept this way of doing things, even though some of the contents are not yet regulated by law.
Tan Hiep island commune center - Cu Lao Cham - Photo: BD
Stone crabs are a "classic" form of tourism on this island. In Cu Lao Cham, crabs are valued through scientific evaluation and are put into conservation. Anyone who wants to catch crabs must have a quota, crabs caught from the cave must be measured for size, if they are too small, they must be released.
Cu Lao Cham stone crab, instead of only costing a few hundred thousand VND/kg, has become a luxury item, costing millions per kg, and it is not easy to eat.
In Cu Lao Cham there is a well. With just the story " Drink water to pray for love, women who do not have children can drink it and their wishes will come true, women who are not married can drink it and they will find love " the ancient well is always surrounded by people who stop to scoop up water to drink.
No one really cares about how effective it is. What customers enjoy is the way it spreads joy and optimism. It is a friendly, gentle tourism product.
Tourism projects spring up on Cu Lao Cham Island and have been halted for many years - Photo: BD
A unique feature of Cu Lao Cham is the community of residents. Although living in an area called Tan Hiep commune, with bustling tourism development and the highest income among communes in Quang Nam, the residents of Cu Lao Cham still maintain a rustic, close character, no different from the old countryside.
Forest, sea, environment and people combined together under the consistent leadership of the government with a mindset of intact conservation have created a unique Cu Lao Cham.
Many lessons from Cu Lao Cham
With tireless conservation efforts, in 2009 UNESCO included Cu Lao Cham in the list of World Biosphere Reserves.
The small island cluster with surrounding forest and sea and river to Cam Thanh coconut forest is considered the breeding ground of marine ecosystem. Cu Lao Cham is the incubator, regenerating the species of the Central coastal region.
On May 23, Quang Nam organized many activities to celebrate the 15th anniversary of Cu Lao Cham being recognized by UNESCO.
Some lessons learned from practice include:
Community is central and master of every story
Civilized resource exploitation
Every destination is always associated with a message.
Identify relevant value chains and linked development stories
Does not disrupt natural structure
Sell what the biosphere has, not what the customer needs.
Sharing benefits harmoniously between parties.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/giu-rung-giu-bien-cu-lao-cham-la-xa-co-doanh-thu-cao-nhat-quang-nam-2024052211351185.htm
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