Cham Islands tourists encouraged to bring waste back to mainland
Saturday, February 08, 2025, 12:05 GMT+7
The authority of Cu Lao Cham, or the Cham Islands, off Quang Nam Province in central Vietnam, is going to call on tourists to take their trash back to the mainland after visiting.
The administration of Hoi An City in the province announced on Friday that it has assigned the Cham Islands Marine Protected Area management board to develop a plan encouraging visitors to bring their waste back to the mainland at the end of their trips.
This initiative is expected to be implemented in 2025, according to authorities.
Under the proposed plan, tourists, tour operators, and local visitors will be advised to minimize the use of disposable items and plastic bags.
Authorities will monitor piers and public areas, encouraging individuals and businesses to comply with the new waste management initiative.
Despite ongoing efforts to promote environmental awareness, waste from tourism activities remains a challenge for local authorities.
Some tourists and tour operators continue to use plastic bags to carry their items.
Currently, the Cham Islands have a waste incineration plant located away from residential areas. However, with the increasing number of visitors, the waste volume is projected to outpace the treatment capacity.
Last year, Cu Lao Cham welcomed nearly 220,000 tourists, marking a 14 percent increase compared to 2023. On peak days, the islands host between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors.
The destination is renowned for its dedication to biodiversity conservation and environmental sustainability, making it a popular eco-tourism destination.
In 2009, local authorities launched the groundbreaking campaign ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’ to eliminate the use of environmentally harmful bags.
This initiative has become a model for sustainable environmental management, earning high recognition from UNESCO.
The Cham Islands, an archipelago of eight small islands, lie 20 kilometers off Cua Dai Beach in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province, and are managed as part of Tan Hiep Commune.
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