Since Sept 1, 2019, Ha Long Bay Management Board has implemented anti-plastic waste movement in service and tourism activities in Ha Long Bay. As a result, the plastic waste has been reduced meanwhile organizations and individuals’ awareness of preserving Ha Long Bay heritage has been improved.
Awareness improved thanks to propaganda boosting
A bottle of water, a plastic straw, a tissue nylon packaging bag, nylon bags storing items when shopping... are always taken by each tourist visting Ha Long Bay. This image has changed a lot in the past six months. The result has achieved thanks to service and tourism units’ active propaganda campaign in changing tourists’ awareness.
Implementing the anti-plastic waste movement in Ha Long Bay, Ha Long Bay Management Board has promoted propaganda activities to tourists, boat owners via loud speakers at tourist sites in the bay, website, fanpage, tourist guides, signals, posters with the notice “Do not use single-use plastic products” and has coordinated with media agencies to propagandize “ Against plastic waste”. As a result, the number of tourists bringing nylon bags and plastic bottles to tourist attractions in Ha Long Bay has been sharply reduced.
Along with that, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has combined with domestic and international organizations such as Green Hub, Center for Marinelife Conservation and Community Development (MCD) etc. to carry out propaganda programs to raise community awareness of protecting environment, collecting and recycling plastic waste, reducing waste generation.
Sychronous solutions are positively responded by businesses
The movement “Saying No to plastic waste” received active responses from businesses in Ha Long Bay. Specifically, 236 businesses and business households running tourist boats, 15 businesses and business households running kayak and boat rowing service, 51 aquaculture businesses and business households signed a commitment with Ha Long Bay Management Board on not using single-use plastic products in tourism service activities in Ha Long Bay.
Furthermore, Ha Long Bay Management Board also organized campaigns to clean up the environment at the foot of the island with a huge amount of rubbish. From Aug 2019 until now, the board implemented 12 campaigns which collected 3-4 cubic meters of waste per time, accounting for 60% of plastic waste, contributing to creating a beautiful image for Ha Long Bay.
Translated by Thu Giang
