With huge potential, if there is timely, quick and targeted action, and the cooperation of the government - people - businesses, Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong City) has the opportunity to realize its aspiration of becoming an international-class "green" tourist island.
The attraction of "green" tourist islands
As one of the important "links" of the economy and sea tourism in the North, the national tourism dynamic area of Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh - Ninh Binh, Cat Ba Island (Hai Phong) has early oriented to develop eco-tourism, with the expectation of breaking through to become a classy, smart "green" tourist island.
Ecotourism has been present in Vietnam since the early 90s of the 20th century and is the fastest growing type of tourism industry, with a growth rate of about 20-34%/year. The most correct understanding of ecotourism is to create an organic, harmonious relationship between people and nature, promoting a sense of responsibility to protect the environment, bringing economic benefits to the local community while preserving natural values.
Developing marine ecotourism is one of the important orientations set out in the Tourism System Planning for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2045.
It is undeniable that Cat Ba Island possesses all the foundations to become a high-class eco-tourism island. The fact that it has 6 national and international titles including: Scenic Spot - Special National Monument, World Biosphere Reserve, National Park, Marine Protected Area, Most Beautiful Bay in the World and most recently the title of World Natural Heritage recognized by UNESCO has made Cat Ba worthy of becoming a "green", smart tourist and resort paradise, the "representative face" of island eco-tourism in Vietnam and Asia.
Owning the Cat Hai - Phu Long cable car line and a strong electric car system operating in the central area are also ideal starting points to quickly establish a green tourism - utility - technical infrastructure ecosystem for the pearl island.
In the world, “green”, smart tourist islands have always proven their strong attraction. Examples include Lamma Island, Hong Kong (China), which is always in the top of the world’s most smoke-free islands worth exploring; Princes Island (Turkey) which says no to gasoline-powered cars; or Tau Island in the American Samoa archipelago which has switched to using solar energy almost entirely… A series of other tourist islands such as Honolulu (Hawaii), the island nation of Dominica in the Caribbean Sea… are also willing to spend a lot of money in the effort to “go green” and reap unexpected success, attracting a huge number of global visitors every year.
Act quickly, turn Cat Ba into "Vietnam's little Maldives" soon
Like other islands in the world, the key issues that Cat Ba needs to solve to make a breakthrough and become a classy green tourist island in Vietnam are noise pollution; oil pollution from cars and other vehicles; waste and wastewater pollution. And to develop sustainably and meet the capacity of a huge number of visitors in the future, it is necessary to calculate and invest in technical infrastructure projects and large-scale tourism infrastructure with modern technology from now on.
According to Prof. Dr. Do Cong Thung - Former Chairman of the Scientific Council of the Institute of Marine Resources and Environment, the priority solution is to minimize the use of gasoline and diesel vehicles on the island. “About 5 years ago, the People's Committee of Hai Phong City raised the issue: how to make all cars and vehicles that emit air pollution and noise stop at the fishing port, not operate on Cat Ba Island, and use electric vehicles to move around the island. That is a necessary vision. Currently, using a cable car from Cat Hai to Cat Ba is a very good solution, overcoming many consequences of environmental pollution, limiting vehicles to the island, but it is not enough to meet long-term needs, it is necessary to add more routes such as from Cat Hai Island to the center of Cat Ba town to make travel more convenient", Prof. Dr. Do Cong Thung analyzed.
In addition, experts also said that it is necessary to speed up the construction of waste and wastewater treatment infrastructure on a large enough scale and with high technology. This is also the desire of the people and businesses on the island after a long time living with garbage and polluted wastewater. "Cat Ba is very beautiful, but under the wharf there is a lot of floating garbage and a foul smell, possibly from the sewers. I hope Cat Ba will be invested in by large corporations, thereby treating the wastewater and waste system to make the space cleaner and fresher", Mr. Pham Van Linh - from Hai Duong, has lived in Cat Ba for more than 10 years shared.
Currently, Hai Phong City and Cat Hai District are also trying to find many solutions to solve the pollution problem by speeding up the implementation of renovation and upgrading projects, building a wastewater collection and treatment system in Tung Dinh Lake area, the central area, etc. At the same time, attracting large investors to join hands in "greening" Cat Ba. Recently, Phu Quoc Civil Construction Company Limited (a member of Sun Group) announced to invest nearly 12,500 billion VND to implement the Cat Ba Central Bay Tourism and Commercial Service Area project to bring a comprehensive green project to the pearl island.
Notably, the project not only provides a synchronous, environmentally friendly wastewater and waste treatment system, but also invests in an advanced seawater filtration system into fresh water and a rainwater collection and treatment system to meet the fresh water needs on the island. In addition, closely following the goal of turning Cat Ba Island into a classy "green" tourist island, the project is systematically planned with the focal point being the central square, international standard public artificial beaches, walking streets and a vibrant service chain. Throughout the project is a green landscape axis, public water surface surrounding and interwoven in all items, creating a green destination in the landscape, green in living facilities as well as green in infrastructure. This is also one of the methodical land reclamation project models and applies many advanced and modern technological solutions according to international trends.
Developing the economy, high-class sea and island tourism, systematically associated with creating and protecting the green and ecological environment along with smart utility systems is the "key" for the islands to develop sustainably. Mr. Michael van de Watering - Leading expert of the Global Consulting Group on Sea Reclamation, Maritime and Water Treatment Technology Royal HaskoningDH said that the opportunity for Cat Ba to become a zero-emission ecological island is very promising. To achieve this goal, joint efforts from the government, businesses and the community are needed.
“Businesses play a key role in adopting green building practices to ensure new construction is energy efficient and environmentally friendly; investing in sustainable tourism initiatives and reducing carbon emissions; and working with local communities to create more jobs that support sustainable practices,” said Michael van de Watering.
Source: https://vov.vn/doanh-nghiep/doanh-nghiep-24h/mo-chia-khoa-sinh-thai-dua-cat-ba-cat-canh-post1128286.vov
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