Many consequences if the number, scale and type of tourist boats in Ha Long Bay are not limited

The information that the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province proposed not to limit the number, scale, and types of tourist boats in Ha Long Bay has attracted attention from public opinion, especially managers, experts, and the business community operating in the tourism sector.

Ha Long Bay – a natural wonder of the world, a heritage recognized three times by UNESCO, is not only a unique and vivid symbol of mysterious beauty “one of a kind” in the world but also a national asset with special value in terms of ecology, tourism, landscape, culture, economy …

In recent years, Quang Ninh province has made many efforts in managing, preserving and promoting the value of Ha Long Bay to ensure the landscape, environmental security, tourist safety, the foundation for promoting sustainable tourism development, enhancing the international reputation of Vietnam in general and Quang Ninh province in particular.

It is necessary to do a good job of preserving and managing Ha Long Bay to be green, clean and beautiful.

However, recently, the information that the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province proposed not to limit the number, scale, and types of tourist boats in the bay has attracted attention from public opinion, especially managers, experts, and the business community operating in the tourism sector. At the same time, referring to international recommendations and national strategic orientations on developing high-quality tourism in Ha Long Bay as well as practical management, exploitation, and conservation work, if implemented, it will pose many potential risks to the environment, heritage, and sustainable tourism development of the bay.

From a positive approach, a perspective of wanting a green Ha Long Bay - a world natural heritage, honored by UNESCO three times, always green, clean, beautiful, pristine but also modern - worthy of international stature, an attractive destination, not only for Vietnamese people but also international tourists, we see that Quang Ninh province needs to carefully consider this issue for the following reasons:

One is the possibility of overloading the marine ecosystem and bay environment.

In fact, with the average operating efficiency of more than 500 ships per year, currently only reaching about 45-50% (except for some peak summer times), it is considered too redundant. At the same time, in recent years, implementing the policy of the Party, the State and Quang Ninh province on limiting the number of ships operating in the bay, gradually reducing small, outdated ships, moving towards a modern, environmentally friendly fleet, Quang Ninh province has built many new ships with large capacity, replacing the number of small, old ships. Therefore, the total tourist transport capacity of the tourist fleet in the bay has increased by about 2,000 seats for daytime sightseeing ships and 504 beds for overnight stays on ships.

At the same time, according to the Ha Long Tourist Boat Association, the current number and capacity of ships in Quang Ninh has basically met the needs of over 25,000 tourists/day at the same time, completely consistent with the scale of the number of ships as well as the number of visitors to the entire bay. Not to mention that in the coming time, when cruise ships from Lan Ha Bay (Hai Phong) are allowed to operate, the number of ships and passengers in Ha Long Bay will increase. Meanwhile, in terms of water surface space, ports receiving guests as well as the system of routes and anchorages of Ha Long Bay, in fact, are currently beyond the maximum capacity of tourism.

Therefore, completely “releasing” the number and scale of tourist boats will cause oil emissions, diesel exhaust, domestic waste as well as collisions or underwater noise..., causing local pollution of water and air sources, especially in anchorage areas, beautiful caves (such as Sung Sot cave, Thien Cung cave...), causing the death of corals, seaweed, and plankton. The level of pollution from oil and exhaust gas causes the decline of fish, seals, sea turtles... that have the habit of residing, breeding, and foraging in the bay, negatively affecting the life of the endemic ecosystem.

Second, wasting investment resources - the risk of leading to unfair competition.

In fact, if the number of ships is not limited, surely in a short time, the number of ships operating in the bay will skyrocket, meaning that the Ha Long Bay tourism market will fall into a state of oversupply and inevitably lead to unhealthy competition between businesses and ship owners...

Large, new investment enterprises may face losses, bankruptcy, waste, and great damage to social resources as well as people's assets, leading to many negative consequences for social security, labor, employment, income, and even causing instability and threatening economic security in the area.

Third, UNESCO's recommendations to protect, restore, and sustainably and effectively exploit the "legendary" heritage of Ha Long Bay are not respected or guaranteed.

As a World Natural Heritage, the pride not only of Vietnam but also of the international community, all activities, especially cultural, tourism, economic activities... must strictly comply with UNESCO's recommendations on load capacity limits, reducing mechanical impacts, strengthening environmental monitoring, controlling wastewater from cruise ships, civil activities... The foundation to protect the unique, natural marine - island ecosystems that are rare and precious, especially the unique limestone ecosystem.

With its majestic natural landscape, thousands of limestone islands and magical caves - a natural masterpiece of mankind, domestic and international tourists all wish to visit and experience Ha Long Bay at least once in their life. Along with that are unique destinations and tours imbued with national identity; enjoy diverse and unique cuisines, especially experience night cuisine - the time when the bay always exudes a magical and legendary beauty.

And if Ha Long Bay's ecological balance is broken, its pristine natural beauty is lost, it will lose its ability to compete as a unique tourist destination. It will invisibly impact and negatively affect the image of Vietnamese tourism in the eyes of international friends. More seriously, if UNESCO and other international organizations assess Ha Long Bay as "uncontrolled overload", at risk of having its heritage title revoked, the damage to the brand as well as the national reputation will be immeasurable.

Therefore, to increase tourist attraction, it is necessary to do a good job of preserving and maintaining the living, pristine heritage - sustainable value, in contrast to cheap, resource-consuming tourism. It is necessary to identify and anticipate all the disadvantages of "releasing" and not limiting the number of tourist boats on the bay for the above reasons so that Ha Long Bay is always worthy of being a World Natural Heritage site honored three times by UNESCO.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Tieu-diem-van-hoa/nhieu-he-luy-neu-khong-han-che-so-luong-quy-mo-loai-tau-du-lich-tren-vinh-ha-long-i773682/