Located about 56 nautical miles southeast of Phan Thiet, Phu Quy Special Zone (Lam Dong province) has a natural area of 18km2, a population of about 32,000 people. The island has many scenic spots, historical relics and potential for marine economic development, especially in the field of tourism.
Towards the goal of becoming a typical destination for green tourism, in the past time, the locality has regularly organized campaigns to clean up the beach, launched a movement against plastic waste and called on tourists to limit bringing plastic waste to the island.
Not only stopping at propaganda activities, tourism service businesses are also starting to change their way of serving customers.
According to Mr. Ngo Minh Pho - Head of Phu Quy Special Economic Zone Tourism Association, there are currently 12 businesses, including seafood businesses, tourist areas and high-speed trains, who have signed commitments not to use or minimize single-use plastic products.
Products such as plastic water bottles, plastic cups, plastic straws and non-biodegradable nylon bags are gradually replaced by glass bottles, paper cups, porcelain cups, paper bags, fabric bags and reusable items.
A representative of an express train transport business said that they will join hands to reduce the use of plastic products, strengthen recovery, recycling, reuse and prioritize environmentally friendly materials in passenger service activities.
Mr. Le Hong Loi - Chairman of Phu Quy Special Economic Zone People's Committee - said that with a small island in the middle of the ocean, each nylon bag or plastic bottle discharged into the environment can last for decades.
According to Mr. Loi, just each person picking up a piece of garbage, planting another green tree and reminding each other to preserve the environment, Phu Quy will become greener every day. This is also a way to preserve the island for future generations and tourists who come to visit.
Ms. Nguyen Lan Ngoc - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province said that green tourism is becoming an inevitable development trend of the global tourism industry.
Reducing environmental impact, preserving natural resources and preserving cultural identity is not only aimed at sustainable development but also contributes to improving the quality of destinations and increasing competitiveness.
From beach cleaning campaigns to businesses limiting single-use plastic, Phu Quy is gradually building a green tourism ecosystem. This is the foundation for the island to preserve its landscape, improve the quality of destinations and attract tourists in the long-term tourism development process.
