"Symbiotic" nature tourism

Corals in Cu Lao Cham are valuable resources to promote tourism associated with biodiversity conservation. Photo: QT

Untapped potential

According to the Vietnam Tourism Development Index 2023, natural resources are one of the index groups in which Quang Nam has strengths compared to the national average, even with outstanding scores. This partly reflects the value of the "treasure" of natural ecosystems that Quang Nam possesses.

However, the biodiversity values ​​in Quang Nam have not yet been able to generate much revenue from tourism. The most popular tour that has been exploited quite effectively for a long time is diving to see coral reefs in Cu Lao Cham.

However, this cannot be called tourism associated with biodiversity conservation in the true sense. The difficulty for exploitation enterprises is that most domestic tourists only want to dive to see the beauty of coral. Some even go just to see but do not have enough time or health to stay long under the sea.

In 2023, Cu Lao Cham will organize a pilot green tourism tour associated with a number of biodiversity protection activities.

According to the Management Board of Cu Lao Cham Marine Protected Area, expanding the scope of the entire Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An biosphere, some ecotourism activities based on biodiversity values ​​are still quite monotonous, not integrating biodiversity conservation factors, and still have potential risks of negative impacts on the characteristic ecosystem of the biosphere.

Reports on monitoring results of corals and seagrass beds in Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An Biosphere Reserve with the consultation of the Institute of Oceanography in 2008, 2014, 2017 and most recently in 2024 show that corals are bleached and eaten a lot by crown-of-thorns starfish.

Bai Say - Song Dam (Tam Ky) has high biodiversity but has not attracted regular tourists. Photo: QT

In recent times, some areas with great potential for tourism development associated with biodiversity conservation have been invested and supported to promote this type such as: Cam Kim (Hoi An), Bai Say - Song Dam (Tam Ky), Tam Hai, Tam My Tay (Nui Thanh), po mu heritage forest complex (Tay Giang)...

However, to become an attractive tour route, welcoming regular visitors is still open for many reasons. The common reason is that in areas near tourist centers, the characteristic elements of biodiversity are not attractive, while some areas possessing "unique values" with typical flora and fauna are isolated, lacking many basic conditions for tourism.

Harmony between development and conservation

Developing ecotourism associated with biodiversity conservation is positioned as a content in the Quang Nam tourism product development plan to 2030.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in addition to continuing to promote the ecological values ​​of the sea and islands (Cu Lao Cham - Hoi An, Tam Hai - Nui Thanh), Bay Mau coconut forest (Cam Thanh - Hoi An)... other areas that need to focus on developing this type include: Song Thanh National Park, Ngoc Linh ginseng area, Sao la species and habitat conservation area, Elephant species and habitat conservation area, Grey-shanked douc langur conservation area (Nui Thanh)...

The gray-shanked douc langur population in Tam My Tay (Nui Thanh) is growing well.

Mr. Van Ba ​​Son - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that not many investors have joined hands with local people to exploit and turn the above potential areas into competitive products to serve tourism.

In the past, relevant parties have also organized many famtrips and surveys to open up destinations, but there are still many gaps to turn potential into reality.

Developing tourism in association with systematic biodiversity conservation, minimizing environmental impact is not easy. Areas with high biodiversity are often vulnerable to social interventions and are difficult to restore to their original state once degraded. Careful assessment and tourism surveys to create harmony in development and conservation are required.

Mr. Pham Hong Tien - Director of K'lang Adventure Tourism Development and Trade Investment Joint Stock Company (the unit is exploiting trekking tours to explore nature in Tay Giang district) said that many international travel agencies have raised the question of whether the unit's exploitation of tourism associated with forests really protects nature? And during the exploitation process, will there be any negative impacts on the environment from tourism activities?

“Once the unit proves this issue, the opportunity to cooperate and implement tour contracts is quite open. In addition, this activity needs to be closely linked to improving the livelihoods of local people (most of the unit's workers are Co Tu people) to be able to develop sustainably” - Mr. Pham Hong Tien shared.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/du-lich-cong-sinh-thien-nhien-3143360.html