Trends in green tourism development

Integrating aquaculture with ecotourism not only opens up new development opportunities for the fisheries and tourism industries but also helps people change their production methods to increase their income. However, this combination is currently mostly done spontaneously by the people, without guidance from specialized agencies or the government to ensure safety during operation, and without specific planning.

Concentrated seafood farming area of ​​the province

With a coastline of approximately 192km and a rich system of rivers, ponds, and lakes, the province's aquaculture sector has significant potential and advantages for development. Beyond production, aquaculture areas can also become ecotourism destinations attracting visitors if properly and appropriately invested in. A prime example is Phu Quy Island District, where the introduction of high-speed ferries has shortened travel time between the mainland and the island to just 2.5 hours instead of 6 hours previously, leading to positive tourism development. Aquaculture in Phu Quy is considered one of the key economic sectors, creating jobs, increasing income for residents, and helping many people become legitimately wealthy. According to the Phu Quy District People's Committee, there are currently 72 aquaculture facilities along the Lach Du coastal area, with a total water surface area of ​​14,485 m2. This includes mainly 61 cage farms covering an area of ​​9,301 m2, along with 11 enclosed ponds (5,184 m2), primarily raising seafood specialties such as lobsters, groupers, snappers, kingfish, snails, sea urchins, etc. The production of cage-farmed fish last year was approximately 100 tons.

Cage farming area for seafood on Phu Quy Island. Photo: N. Lan

In recent years, as the number of tourists from the mainland to the island has increased, raft owners have combined aquaculture with the provision of fresh seafood processing services for tourists visiting the rafts at sea. This service is very popular with mainland tourists visiting the island because they can both snorkel to admire the coral reefs and enjoy the cool sea breeze while savoring delicious fresh seafood prepared on the spot. This popularity has inadvertently given those who raise seafood in rafts a side business in tourism. According to local data, since the beginning of this year, Phu Quy has welcomed more than 150,000 tourists (an increase of more than 61,000 visitors compared to the same period last year), including more than 2,200 foreign tourists. And most of these tourists do not miss the raft tour to enjoy seafood, therefore the number of rafts used for tourism is increasing, mostly spontaneously.

Those who raise seafood in cages have unexpectedly taken up tourism as a side business.

It is known that in 2019, the People's Committee of Phu Quy district required owners of floating rafts to sign commitments to fully equip their facilities with rescue equipment and life jackets for visitors. Vehicles transporting visitors to the rafts must be registered and inspected according to regulations, and operators of high-speed motorboats and canoes must be trained and certified. In particular, the rafts must be equipped with septic tanks, and garbage must be collected ashore at the end of each day… to prevent indiscriminate littering that pollutes the marine environment. To date, approximately 10 floating rafts offering tourism services have met these requirements and have become an indispensable destination in the island's itinerary for tourists.

The district is surveying and developing a model of breakwater ponds that combine aquaculture with tourism.

Creating a breakthrough for the fisheries economy.

In line with the trend of developing green tourism, Phu Quy island district has encouraged floating cage farms to invest in aquaculture, while also implementing necessary conditions for tourism business, ensuring the marine environment and safety for tourists exploring the floating cage farms in Lach Du. In addition, the district is surveying the Mom Da bay to develop a model of breakwater ponds that combine aquaculture with tourism. The district will plan, design, and provide technical guidance for these breakwater ponds, ensuring they are aesthetically pleasing, safe, and a unique tourist destination on the island.

There must be a unified plan, and specific authority must be granted to the entities participating in the investment.

Not only Phu Quy Island, but other freshwater aquaculture areas in the province, such as sturgeon farming in Da Mi and Ham Thuan districts, and the two districts of Tanh Linh and Duc Linh, are also moving towards combining aquaculture with ecotourism. This is also one of the development orientations of Binh Thuan's fisheries sector until 2030. Specifically, the province will promote the development of marine aquaculture, provide alternative livelihoods for fishermen, and develop aquatic resources in conjunction with ecotourism development. With this orientation, the aquaculture industry not only has the potential to create an economic breakthrough, contributing to a stable supply of raw materials for seafood exports, but also helps reduce pressure on offshore fishing. This is a new tourism product that promises to bring a breakthrough to the fisheries economy as well as tourism. However, the development of ecotourism needs to ensure the quality of products and services provided, as well as authenticity...

Therefore, in addition to investing in aquaculture infrastructure, serious investment is needed in supporting services; mitigating the impact of natural disasters, protecting the environment, etc. Furthermore, for this tourism product to develop sustainably, specialized sectors and local authorities need to improve the effectiveness of planning, ensuring that the areas and species of aquaculture are suitable, and people must also change their production mindset towards "clean products, good services".

At the workshop "Natural Marine Aquaculture Combined with the Protection and Development of Aquatic Resources" held in Hoi An City, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Anh – Chairman of the Binh Thuan Shrimp Seed Association – proposed: For a long time, marine aquaculture in Vietnam has been largely spontaneous, with people farming without planning, without clear policies or mechanisms, and they operate independently, resulting in low efficiency. Therefore, the first step is to have a unified plan and specific rights granted to participating investors. Regarding the issue of granting long-term sea rights to people for aquaculture, as stipulated in Decree 11 issued in 2021, no locality has yet implemented it. If this is done comprehensively, then the responsibilities and protection in the development of the marine economy, ensuring green products and the preservation of marine resources, will be truly effective.

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/nuoi-thuy-san-ket-hop-du-lich-xu-the-phat-trien-du-lich-xanh-115358.html