Talking to Lao Dong, a leader of Con Dao district said: "Currently, relics managed by the district People's Committee have stopped bringing votive papers into the relic area; Meanwhile, Con Dao National Monuments managed by the Department implement the "Green Basket Saturday" program, limiting single-use plastic products and not burning votive papers every Saturday.
Effect Saturday Green holiday basket
Tran Phuong Anh (born in 2003, Phu Tho) had a trip to Con Dao in early July. The female tourist said that because she arrived in the middle of the week, the activities "Saturday Basket Ceremony" were not organized at the relic sites. green".
However, most places and relics in the district still encourage people and tourists not to offer or burn votive papers. Those who bring or burn votive offerings will be warned by the management board.
"Before coming to Con Dao, my family and I read and researched in groups and information from Con Dao district about the issue of burning votive papers at the relic site," Phuong Anh said.
However, she realized that the above information has not been widely disseminated. For example, when arriving at the Than Tai Temple, the small merchants making offerings were informed differently about the temple's regulations: One side affirmed that they could still bring normal votive papers, while the other side said that they were not allowed to offer votive offerings or use plastic or styrofoam items. once, causing harm to the environment.
"On relic sites there are not many signs, banners, or regulations on this issue, so tourists easily get confused with the information and find it difficult to grasp it accurately," the female tourist expressed.
On the other hand, Phuong Anh especially supports the implementation of green holiday baskets to protect the environment. The female tourist shared: "In fact, burning too much votive paper both consumes natural resources and pollutes the environment. Therefore, I support the implementation of a green ceremony tray and will offer a green ceremony basket when I return to Con Dao."
Ms. Thu Huong (29 years old, local tour guide) said that initially, when applying the movement of saying no to votive paper and the "Green Basket Saturday" activity, many tourists were not familiar with it.
"From the time of announcement to the implementation of the "Green Holiday Basket Saturday" activity was quite short, causing many guests to not grasp the information. Therefore, at the ceremony site, there was a dispute when guests arrived with prepared offerings but were not allowed to bring them in," Ms. Huong said.
However, after a period of propaganda and promotion on groups, social network fanpages and banners and announcements at relic sites, most tourists have grasped the information and fully implemented it.
According to Ms. Huong, tourism and travel businesses in the district were informed in advance about the "Green Holiday Basket Saturday" activity 2 months ago to propagate to tourists. Small businesses selling offerings around the relic also gradually grasp the standard of information to give correct and sufficient advice to customers.
Positive impact
On average, each green holiday basket costs from 300,000 - 600,000 VND, depending on the customer's request, the price is quite affordable compared to regular holiday baskets. Many stores selling holiday items have updated many satisfactory designs for customers to choose from.
The Green Ceremony Basket activity is only carried out on Saturdays, a day when visitors are absolutely not allowed to burn votive papers at monuments and attractions. At the door of each spiritual site or relic, there are security guards who check to see if the offering baskets are in accordance with regulations, ensuring that no votive papers or single-use plastic items are brought inside.
On other days, guests are reminded to limit burning votive papers. This activity is not completely banned from now until September 10.
According to statistics from the Con Dao National Monuments Conservation Center, on July 6 - the first day of implementing "Green Ceremony Basket Saturday" there were about 4,026 people visiting Hang Duong cemetery, through which 1,179 trays were placed. ceremony, flower offering basket.
Through consultation and support from the volunteer force, up to 1,007 holiday baskets met green criteria without plastic, votive goods, or foam, reaching a rate of 85.41%. This is also the first day there is no burning of votive papers at Hang Duong cemetery.
According to the Department of Culture and Information of Con Dao district, in addition to banners and signs placed in many places and relics in the area, the unit also produces many news articles broadcast on the province's media agencies. ; as well as open more radio programs every Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday afternoon for residents and tourists to catch.
“The purpose of the plan is to preserve a healthy environment; towards civilized tourism. At the same time, it is also implemented according to the Project of Research and application of the Circular Economy model to serve sustainable socio-economic development in Con Dao district, Ba Ria - Vung Tau province for the period of 2022 - 2025, determined towards 2030", said Ms. Tran Thi Hoai Thu - Head of the Department of Culture and Sports of Con Dao district.
In the coming time, units in the district have and will continue to promote propaganda and advocacy until the end of 2024 in the direction of gradually limiting and reducing offerings and burning of votive papers, then will stop completely. with the goal of resolutely saying no to the burning of votive objects at all relic sites in the area.
From June 2023, the People's Committee of Con Dao district has issued Plan No. 170/KH-UBND on implementing the policy of limiting and gradually stopping offerings and burning votive offerings at sites and relics in Con Dao district. Island. Accordingly, the district has set out a specific implementation roadmap with 3 stages, with special emphasis on propaganda work.
Phase 1 will be implemented from June 10 to September 10, 2023 with propaganda, awareness and advocacy content.
Phase 2 will be implemented from September 2023 with the content of stopping the offering and burning of votive objects at some relics managed by the District People's Committee and limiting the offering and burning of votive objects at some relics managed by the Conservation Center. Managed Con Dao National Monument.
Phase 3 will stop offering and burning votive offerings at all sites and relics in the area from October 1, 2024.
However, the implementation still faces many obstacles, leading to mainly only carrying out propaganda and advocacy work.
At the end of January 2024, the district continued to issue Plan No. 43/KH-UBND to "say no to the practice of burning votive offerings at sites and relics in the district, contributing to building a civilized Con Dao." , green, clear, beautiful".
Thereby, propaganda and advocacy are carried out regularly and continuously through direct and indirect forms to gradually have a positive and profound impact on the awareness of individuals and organizations so that they can see that That is uncivilized, should not be done and is also ineffective.
At the same time, in early June 2024, the Con Dao National Monuments Conservation Center also issued a plan to implement "Green Holiday Basket Saturday", implemented from July 2024, to change habits in gratitude activities. , Memorial; Use environmentally friendly products, do not use fake goods or single-use plastic products; stopped offering and burning votive offerings at the Con Dao special national relic site.
