Bich Dam island village has a great opportunity

Khanh Hoa province is finalizing the draft "Functional zoning of Nha Trang Bay", which emphasizes the Hon Mun - Bich Dam island area towards sustainable development of coral reefs and improving livelihoods for the community on Bich Dam island.

Fishermen do tourism

According to Dr. Ho Van The, Deputy Director of the Institute of Oceanography (the consulting unit for the zoning plan), the plan to adjust the functional zoning of Nha Trang Bay includes 2 areas: the mainland area of Nha Trang City and the Nha Trang Bay area. In which, the mainland area of Nha Trang City is divided into 6 areas and the Nha Trang Bay area is divided into 4 areas. The total area of the functional zoning of Nha Trang Bay is 26,490 hectares, of which the water surface area is 22,482 hectares and the island area is 4,008 hectares.

Xóm đảo Bích Đầm trước cơ hội lớn - Ảnh 1. — Community tourism associated with environmental protection is the direction for sustainable livelihood development for Bich Dam.

Notably, Nha Trang Bay has 19 large and small islands, of which Bich Dam residential group (part of Hon Tre Island) with about 228 households and about 880 people is located near the Hon Mun strictly protected area (Nha Trang Bay Marine Protected Area). Therefore, if illegal fishing activities and plastic waste are allowed here, it will pollute the environment and harm the coral reefs in the Hon Mun strictly protected area.

According to Ms. Nguyen Thi Thu Huyen, National Coordinator - GEF/SGP/UNDP (Global Environment Facility and United Nations Development Program), the proposed solution is to join hands to help people on Bich Dam island in accessing and jointly managing aquatic resources protection. At the same time, it is possible to conduct very typical community tourism on the co-management model.

In fact, for nearly a year now, the Bich Dam Women's Association has coordinated with local people to open dialogues between local people - government - businesses, paving the way for the Bich Dam community tourism model to form and develop. Households have begun to use their own houses to make homestays, cook rustic meals for tourists, guide tourists to visit Bich Dam communal house, Hon Lon lighthouse, learn about the sea, fishermen's livelihood...

Ms. Duong Thi Tho, Head of the Women's Association of Bich Dam residential group - who directly participates in community tourism, said that every day her family welcomes one to two groups of visitors, each group of 5-25 people. Visitors are served meals by the family with a rustic menu, rich in local flavor. Fresh seafood such as shrimp, fish, etc. are available on the island. Reasonable costs, peaceful space, simple but delicious dishes have made many visitors come back.

Mr. Tran Bao, a tourist, when coming here, said that the value of Bich Dam is the peaceful atmosphere of the fishing village in the early morning, watching the starfish at night. A comfortable spirit to eat, watch the sea, feel the "healing" atmosphere for those who want to temporarily leave the hustle and bustle of the city.

Green, sustainable direction

Bich Dam residential group on Hon Tre island in the middle of Nha Trang bay (belonging to Vinh Nguyen ward, Nha Trang city, Khanh Hoa province) with its rustic, peaceful beauty has great potential for developing community tourism.

Recently, the People's Committee of Nha Trang City has approved the Project on developing green and sustainable community tourism in Bich Dam residential group. The orientation of developing green and sustainable community tourism in Bich Dam residential group is to contribute to creating new tourism products, creating sustainable livelihoods for local people, contributing to the conservation and development of marine biodiversity, maintaining security and order, environmental sanitation; protecting the sovereignty of sea and islands.

The project aims to have Bich Dam recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a community tourism destination by 2025; by 2030, Bich Dam will have 8-10 community tourism businesses; at least 80% of people participating in community tourism services will be trained in tourism management; welcome 45,000 tourists/year (of which 40% are international visitors); create regular jobs for 200 direct workers and 50 indirect workers...

Mr. Truong Dinh Vinh, an officer of the Bich Dam Community Tourism Management Board, said that in the coming time, the board will continue to work with the people to launch specialized teams such as: transportation team, culinary team, rescue team... to ensure synchronous services, not allowing "price gouging" and unhealthy competition to occur.

He emphasized the need to develop operating regulations, organize training on behavioral skills, serve tourists, as well as encourage people to keep the environment clean and not litter. These are key factors for sustainable development of community tourism.

"Thach Sanh's rice pot" for livelihood

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Chu Hoi, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Fisheries Association, said that Bich Dam Island has special potential for developing community tourism associated with the rational exploitation of marine resources. Bich Dam possesses a rich marine ecosystem, especially coral reefs, which are the "Thach Sanh rice pot" for the long-term livelihood of local people. If community tourism in Bich Dam wants to develop effectively, it must ensure three safety factors: "security", "well-being" and "safety". These are the core values that need to be maintained.