City’s marine resources can be a tourist attraction, like Phuket

As Hong Kong endeavours to keep residents in the city over the weekend as well as attract mainland and international tourists, it is of paramount importance for the city to look for new directions in developing its tourism industry. My recent visit to Phuket gave me some food for thought about the marine resources Hong Kong is blessed with but has not fully utilised.

Phuket is well known for its spectacular beaches and crystal-clear waters. The myriad coral reefs and tropical fish there have lured vast numbers of visitors who go snorkelling and diving.

To my surprise, even with the many tourists hitting these places on a daily basis, the beaches were generally clean and the water quality was extraordinary. When I dived into the sea, the coral reef was in good shape and the seabed was nearly free of debris.

Unknown to many tourists, several places in Hong Kong offer beaches suitable for a variety of water sports. Our city might not have as many marine creatures as Phuket, but it is endowed with rich biodiversity.

Snorkellers will find Green Egg Island, Kat O and Pak Lap Wan appealing for their colourful coral reefs. Scuba divers will be pleased to know they can do wreck and cave dives in Yin Tsz Ngam and Tsim Chau. Tai Mei Tuk and Hoi Ha Wan are musts for canoeists, and hikers can trek through Sharp Peak and camp on the beach.

Unfortunately, Hong Kong’s beaches and seabed are less clean than Phuket’s. If Hong Kong can make good use of its marine resources and keep its beaches and islands clean, there is no doubt it can transform itself into a destination like Phuket, that is, a place where Hongkongers want to explore and which tourists from the mainland and overseas want to visit.

Anson Chan, Guangzhou