Revealing how to do it
In the international port area, the Sun Raft of Ms. Tran Thi Hieu (Phu Quoc Special Zone) has emerged as a destination loved by tourists not only for its service but also for its awareness of environmental protection. For Ms. Hieu, business always goes hand in hand with the responsibility to preserve nature.
"In addition to keeping the landscape around the raft, I also remind customers to leave their trash in the right place. Tourists who see themselves protecting the environment will feel very satisfied, thereby continuing to be mindful when traveling elsewhere" - Ms. Hieu said.
With this method, every day, Nang Trai collects about 5 bags of trash, including trash discharged by tourists and trash drifted from the sea. At the end of the day, she will classify the waste at the source.
Mr. Ly A Sac - a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City - expressed his excitement: "I have been here many times but this is the first time I have come to this raft. I feel comfortable because it is always clean.
In fact, Ms. Hieu's current way of doing things, as well as at some other boats, is largely thanks to the propaganda and enthusiastic guidance of the Phu Quoc clean and Green group. This is one of the long-time environmental protection groups operating on the Pearl Island with the goal of contributing to raising awareness in the community.
"The young people kept giving us instructions, so we gradually understood, seeing them as green warriors, I really admired them" - Ms. Hieu commented.
Mr. Du Hong Dang Hai - a young member of the group - shared: "It is very happy that when participating, not only Vietnamese people but also many foreigners participate, thereby building a beautiful image of Vietnam in the eyes of international friends".
Proposing strategic solutions
It is known that in recent years, the group has also embarked on more difficult missions such as picking up each bottle and plastic bag floating on the beach, diving to clean up garbage trapped in precious coral reefs, or propagating hygiene at fish rafts.
Mr. Tran Van Sanh - Head of Phu Quoc Clean and Green Group, who has been involved in environmental protection activities for 10 years - said: "Work is not based on profit but on volunteer spirit. Although it takes a lot of time, we always try to arrange to participate every week.
A special point that the group is implementing is recycling waste as souvenirs. Accordingly, members classify waste that can be recycled, send it to the treatment site for cleaning, then turn it into ingredients for gifts. Revenue from selling gifts will be used to support difficult circumstances or operating expenses.
Talking about the long-term orientation, Mr. Sanh said: "I am thinking about calling on all travel agencies and tour guides to participate in the club, thereby informing tourists not to bring plastic bags and plastic bottles to boats and prohibit bringing plastic bags and plastic bottles to the islands".
According to Mr. Sanh, this is a strategic proposal, because tour guides are the ones who come into direct contact and have the greatest influence on tourists' awareness from the beginning. He hopes that including the message "No plastic waste" in the tourism process will create a "green belt" to protect the Pearl Island more comprehensively.
Although the idea requires consensus and cooperation from the community and cannot be implemented only day by day, it is an inevitable path for Phu Quoc to forever maintain its original wild, clean green beauty.
