Ecotourism: Beach-cleaning tours on Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island
TUOI TRE NEWS
UPDATED : 12/04/2016 10:51 GMT + 7
Many travelers on tours to Phu Quoc Island, off the southern Vietnamese coast, have jumped at a surprise offer from tour operators to take part in beach-cleaning activities as itinerary extras.
The activities are part of the ‘Phu Quoc Green Tourism’ campaign, jointly run by Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper and the administration of Kien Giang Province, which is located in southern Vietnam.
Phu Quoc, dubbed ‘pearl island’ for its breathtaking beaches and vast forests, is an offshore district administered by Kien Giang, and is Vietnam’s largest island.
Dozens of travelers on tours operated by Ho Chi Minh City-based Viet Media Travel and Phu Quoc-based Dong Doi Tourism on Friday enthusiastically joined in litter-picking activities at Dinh Cau Beach in Phu Quoc after they were given a surprise notice the day before by their tour guides.
Among the participants were Vietnamese actress Viet Trinh and Tran Thanh Trung, vice chairman at local movie studio VnFilm, who cut short their diving and fishing itineraries to partake in the activities.
“It’s a meaningful thing to do,” Viet Trinh told Tuoi Tre as she live-streamed the event on Facebook to raise awareness among her friends and followers.
“I feel that this needs to be shared, and I hope the message will be passed on by my friends and family members on Facebook,” the actress said.
As a tourist herself, Trinh said she understood how it felt to stand before a beautiful beach that had been turned ugly by litter.
“It’s disappointing to visit a place that is filled with litter,” Trinh said to explain her motive for joining the activity. “Just imagine how much more beautiful our travel destinations would be if we were more sensible and put our garbage away.”
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