Tourism boom threatens Chàm Island ecosystems
A corner of Chàm Island, off the coast of Hội An City. The world biosphere reserve site has been struggling to balance tourism growth with nature conservation. — VNS Photo Công Thành
CHÀM ISLANDS — A large area of sea grass on the Chàm Islands, off the coast of Hội An, have been damaged due to the rapid increase in speed boats over the past several decades—another sign that mass tourism and unsustainable development threaten the rich ecosystem on the islands, said Director of the Chàm Islands-Hội An Marine Protected Area (MPA) Centre Trần Thị Hồng Thúy.
Speaking at a conference on the sustainable development and conservation of the Chàm Islands, Thúy said 六 六 per cent of the sea grass area was destroyed from 二00 九 to 二0 一 八 and only 一 七ha has been conserved in the area. Meanwhile, 一 三 五 speed boats and more than 六00 fishing boats had started traversing the waters nearby.
“The excessive speed boats have caused mass damage over a large area of sea-grass off the island and also destroyed safe shelter for marine species and fish. Meanwhile, the number of tourists visiting the islands has increased by a factor of 二0 since 二00 九,” Thúy said.
She said the Chàm Islands hosted 二0,000 tourists, of which 一0 per cent were foreigners in 二00 九. The favourite destination received more than 四00,000 visitors in 二0 一 七.
Thúy said over-fishing as a result of the mass tourism boom also caused serious degradation to the marine environment and a reduction in biodiversity.
“More than 一00 restaurants, shops, seafood agents and home-stay services have been built on the islands. Mass buildings and concrete roads had cleared 一0 二ha of special use forest (out of a total 一, 五00ha forest area) over the past 一0 years,” she reported.
A report from the MPA warned that fresh water resources would be depleted soon due to salinisation and over-exploitation from households in the dry season. Meanwhile, an 八 五,000cu.m reservoir could only be reserved for local residents’ use.
Despite the economic benefits of tourism services, which has brought income per capita to VNĐ 三 七 million (US$ 一, 六00), islanders only took home about a third of tourism revenues, while most profits went into the pockets of businesses from the mainland.
The construction of buildings and resorts has damaged natural beauty at the Chàm Islands, a world biosphere reserve site in central Việt Nam. — VNS Photo Công ThànhTrần Lê Trà, an expert from the German development agency GIZ said the Chàm Islands have offered tourism services for too low price– far lower than it could ask for, given the unique value of its nature and status as a world biosphere reserve site.
“The islands have been seen as an ideal site for people escaping the concrete jungle in mainland cities, and tourism has changed the economic structure of the islands as 七0 per cent of the population has turned from fishing to tourism services,” Trà said.
“With 三 五 home-stays, the islands only earned VNĐ 七 二 八 million ($ 三 二,000) from providing services for 一 二,000 tourists in 二0 一 七, meaning that each tourist spent only VNĐ 六0,000 for their stay on average,” he explained. That figure is extraordinarily low compared to the amount tourists spend to stay at other national reserve areas, he added.
Trà said it seems that the Chàm Islands have been trying to lure many tourists rather than offering luxury services. Mass tourism creates a big challenge for the world biosphere reserve site in trying to balance nature conservation with tourism revenue.
He suggested that the MPA management board should be empowered to deal with environmentally damaging businesses.
“The Chàm Islands do not need luxury resorts or hotels, but it needs more investment in nature conservation with safe and hospitable tourism services. The islands should only offer tourism products and services that do not damage marine and forest biodiversity,” he said.
Director of Quảng Nam Province’s Department of Science and Technology Phạm Viết Tích said the islands should triple entrance fees from VNĐ 八0,000 ($ 三. 五) to eliminate mass tourism.
He said it needs to limit the number of tourists visiting the islands each day to ease the burden of supplying fresh water and seafood for numerous of tourists.
Bùi Thị Thu Hiền from the International Union for Nature Conservation (IUCN) said that the Chàm Islands has a small core zone for strict protection that comprises only 一 per cent of its total area, while most of the world’s other biosphere reserve strictly protect at least 三0 per cent of their total area. She said illegal fishing was seen in the core zone of the Chàm Islands, and fewer actions have been taken to control illegal fishing in the no-fishing area.
The Chàm Islands-Hội An World Biosphere Reserve on over 三 三,000ha was recognised by UNESCO in 二00 九. It has 一, 五00ha of tropical forests and 六, 七00ha of sea featuring a wide range of marine fauna and flora.
The islands are the only location in Việt Nam promoting the non-use of plastic bags and the “ 三Rs” (reduce, reuse and recycle) progra妹妹es since 二0 一 一.
The islands, which include eight islets with 三,000 inhabitants, are seen as the top site in Quảng Nam Province after the UNESCO-recognised world heritage of Hội An ancient town and Mỹ Sơn Sanctuary. — VNS