Environmental protection solutions in tourism development in Nghe An

Many tourist facilities still discharge waste into the environment.

Through monitoring and surveys by the Department of Natural Resources and Environment, it is shown that some locations bordering Nghi Son (Thanh Hoa), estuaries, and seaports of Nghe An are starting to show signs of fluctuations that need attention, such as: Suspended solids index (TSS), Coliform...

At the same time, in many tourist destinations, there is no attention paid to protecting natural resources and the ecological environment, littering and environmental pollution still occur.

Even in some places where ecotourism is exploited, the minimum hygiene conditions are not guaranteed... making tourists feel uneasy, especially international visitors. Along with that, waste from accommodation facilities is mostly not collected and treated properly, causing environmental pollution.

The estuaries of the fishing villages of hamlets 11A, 11B and hamlet 16 (Dien Thinh) are covered with piles of garbage stretching along the edge of the sea. Photo: Thanh Yen

According to calculations, the amount of wastewater discharged from tourism activities in the province is about 900 million m3.³/year, however, the number of facilities with wastewater treatment systems that meet standards is very small.

Most tourist attractions, hotels, and restaurants only have septic tank systems to treat wastewater from toilets for preliminary treatment and then discharge it outside, causing environmental pollution; The problem of solid waste collection at many tourist attractions, accommodation facilities, services, etc. is still inadequate, unsightly, and causes environmental pollution, such as waste classification, unreasonable arrangement of waste transfer points, etc.

The construction of hotels, motels, golf courses, and entertainment areas has narrowed the coastal strip and reduced the area of ​​coastal protective casuarina forests. As a result, it has caused coastal erosion in some localities,...

The beach next to the restaurant and hotel system of Dien Thanh beach resort (Dien Chau) is covered with all kinds of waste. Photo taken in July 2019, Photo: Canh Yen

Environmental protection solutions

To ensure sustainable tourism development, Nghe An needs to encourage the application of technology to reduce energy consumption, clean water and reuse waste in tourism service establishments; encourage and support the development of environmentally friendly tourism, especially eco-tourism.

Along with that, the overall planning for tourism development must be linked to the overall planning for socio-economic development, environmental resources planning; well implementing the planning for clean water supply for urban and rural areas, especially tourist areas and key economic areas.

Increase the proportion of spending on environmental protection activities in general and environmental protection in tourism activities in particular from provincial budget sources and official development assistance capital from the Central Government.

It is necessary to encourage the development of sustainable tourism and eco-tourism by applying a “green consumption policy” and implementing energy-saving management in restaurants and hotels; waste management with the 4R strategy: Rethink, Reuse, Reduce, Recycle, etc. Regularly organize inspections, checks and handle violations of environmental protection laws for service businesses in tourism activities.

Workers of Cua Lo Urban Environment and Tourism Services Joint Stock Company collect waste on the beach. Photo: Lam Tung

Upgrade, maintain and repair the traffic system to better serve tourist transportation to limit dust generation, especially some routes to prominent tourist destinations connecting tourist destinations with inter-provincial and inter-district traffic routes.

Invest in centralized wastewater treatment systems and drainage systems in tourist areas; limit pollution from domestic wastewater by using 3-compartment septic tanks for sanitary wastewater and settling tanks for bathing wastewater. The province and businesses also need to invest in more mobile public toilets along the walking paths to serve tourists.

Collecting waste at Quynh Nghia beach (Quynh Luu). Photo: Viet Hung

At the same time, socialize the collection and treatment of solid waste and hazardous waste, ensuring that 95% of solid waste in urban areas and tourist areas is collected and treated hygienically; complete projects to build solid waste treatment complexes, build drainage systems and wastewater treatment facilities, especially facilities with wastewater in tourist areas and ecologically sensitive areas. Encourage the development of waste treatment service facilities, apply technology to respond to environmental incidents.

Taking seawater samples in Cua Lo town. Photo: Document

In tourism exploitation, management agencies must always emphasize the issue of environmental protection and maintaining the natural ecosystem at tourist destinations; make environmental protection one of the important tasks in planning projects and tourism development strategies of the province and tourist areas and destinations.