Spontaneous island and coastal tourism

During the recent April 30th and May 1st holidays, I visited Hon Chua Island. The song "Lamenting My Fate" has a line: "Go to Hon Chua to eat cuttlefish," which refers to Hon Chua Island in the sea off An Phu commune, Tuy Hoa city. For those who love traveling, backpacking, and exploring unspoiled places, Hon Chua is a worthwhile destination. The cuttlefish, famously delicious in this area and mentioned in the song, became the reason to pack my bags and go there.

The sandy beach on the southwest side of the island – where the tourist facilities are located. Photo: Vo Tien

Currently, Hon Chua Island has five establishments providing food and drinks, renting tents, diving equipment, sports equipment, and supplying fresh water. When the author mentioned wanting to start a tourism service business on the island, one owner looked skeptical: "How can that be? There's no more space." Hon Chua Island only has a single sandy beach in the southwest corner – where the local residents have built their service infrastructure. In other areas, there are only rocky beaches and steep slopes, making construction, travel, and sightseeing impossible.

The owner of establishment C.Ch stated that there have been occasional customers and steady revenue since Tet (Lunar New Year), while also acknowledging that businesses in the area are operating in an unregulated manner. At certain times, authorities have reminded them not to allow tourists to stay overnight on the island.

Spontaneous forms of island and coastal tourism also appear in other areas of Phu Yen province, such as Vung Ro Bay. Locals set up floating cages for aquaculture, and over time, services transporting tourists to these cages for meals and drinks have proliferated. Raising aquatic animals and then organizing parties and entertainment on these cages is seen as, to some extent, encroaching upon the national historical and cultural heritage site of Vung Ro Bay.

Tourists dining on Hon Chua Island. Photo: Vo Tien

At the scenic Bai Mon - Mui Dien area, groups of travelers often organize overnight camping trips on the sand. However, recently, tourists have been reminding each other on social media that this spontaneous activity is no longer permitted. In Khanh Hoa province, a famous beach and island tourist destination that attracts many visitors has stopped receiving tourists because it is located in a military zone. Nevertheless, on travel forums, members still advise each other that if traveling in small groups and with local people's endorsement, it's still allowed.

Right in the Hon Chua sea area, Phu Yen Newspaper reported that on May 21st and 22nd, the 2nd Naval Squadron of the Phu Yen Provincial Border Guard organized training and live firing exercises. Images show border guard vessels patrolling, observing, and guarding the area to prevent fishing boats from passing through.

Hon Chua Island is only 7 km from the mainland, and from the island, you can clearly see the houses in the center of Tuy Hoa city. Getting to the island is quick and easy; the ticket costs about 50,000 VND per person, and the boat ride takes less than 10 minutes. Returning to the mainland at low tide in the dark, the boatman wades into the sea, wearing a flashlight to search for currents and coral reefs, carefully pulling the boat back to shore.

However, the absence of significant incidents does not mean we can be complacent and assume everything is under control. Coastal and island tourism is unique and exciting, but it also harbors dangers if organizers and transporters are careless, and tourists, preoccupied with having fun, easily make a moment of carelessness.

The instinct to seek out pristine islands and seas is a natural desire for many people, and it also activates new destinations, giving rise to new tourism models. Tour services often emerge and develop afterward.

However, this is also an impulsive behavior, leading to spontaneous tourism activities. Local authorities, relevant agencies, and travel agencies need to sit down together to control and organize things systematically. Not only Hon Chua, Vung Ro, or the islands along the central coast, but generally all "natural" tourist destinations must be managed professionally and effectively.

This not only strengthens safety and improves quality but also promotes surplus growth for the tourism sector in particular and the economy in general. Don't wait for incidents or accidents to happen before seeking solutions or reacting with extreme measures like prohibitions and bans.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/du-lich-bien-dao-tu-phat-196240525223421012.htm