Con Dao fights against plastic flood: strengthening environmental awareness in tourism!

Con Dao fights against plastic flood: strengthening environmental awareness in tourism!

Con Dao, Vietnam - Con Dao, a breathtaking island group in Vietnam, attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year who want to experience the natural beauty and historical sites of the region. However, this tourist popularity also results in serious environmental problems. According to a report by vietnam.vn , the high increase to visitors leads to an alarming increase in plastic waste that has become a greater burden on the environment in recent years.

The province of Ba Ria - Vung Tau, which belongs to Con Dao, has therefore taken drastic measures to prevent the population and tourists from using disposable plastic. The daily waste of waste on the island amounts to 20 to 25 tons, while the on -site waste treatment plant can only treat 4 to 5 tons per day manually. Untreated waste has accumulated at over 100,000 tons and remains an environmental problem for years.

plastic waste and its consequences

A large proportion of the waste on Con Dao comes from the tourism sector, especially plastic bottles and packaging, which are often left behind on beaches and tourist attractions after the high season. The transport costs for the disposal of the garbage to the mainland turn out to be problematic, and the technologies used for waste use cause additional toxic emissions. These challenges make it almost impossible to effectively reduce the environmental impact.

The sensitization of the public is regarded as a basic solution. The Ministry of Science and Technology has asked telecommunications companies for support to achieve both residents and tourists via SMS messages and to clarify them about the need to reduce disposable plastic. Such information campaigns are planned from 2025.

sustainable initiatives

environmentally friendly measures are a crucial part of the current efforts. For example, the "Grüner Victim bas" campaign promotes the use of environmentally friendly materials for offerings at spiritual sites. In addition, the “Tussche Gifts” program was launched in order to collect recyclable materials and to promote environmentally conscious behavior in the population. By the beginning of 2025, over 2.2 tons of recyclable waste had already been collected.

The CON DAO People's Committee emphasized that control over the plastic objects carried through cooperation between the government, companies and citizens is feasible. There is also a plan to promote investments in a new waste treatment plant with a capacity of 36 tons per day, which is to be built in the Ben-Damm area. This system will use modern technologies from industrialized countries such as the G7 and the EU.

The loss of natural beauty due to plastic waste is not only a challenge for con dao, but also in the global context. The wwf emphasizes that in the Mediterranean area there is up to 95 % of plastic, which is made annually for financial damage of 268 million euros for the Tourism industry leads. It is evident that the travel industry also has to take responsibility worldwide to combat plastic pollution.

Consumers are increasingly showing sensitivity to these topics and demanding determined action against plastic waste. Therefore, important steps are necessary, which can also lead to a reduction in plastic consumption in the tourist infrastructure. This includes that tourist companies have to check their own practices and do without disposable utensils. It is also essential to inform guests about such measures.

A common denominator in looking at these challenges is the call to travelers to reduce their own plastic footprint. This includes bringing your own drinking bottle and avoiding disposable dishes in restaurants.

Con dao is an example of the challenges for which many tourism destinations are facing, and it is to be hoped that the measures taken will bear fruit to maintain the beauty of this unique region.