Sustainable Tourism in Repulse Bay, Hong Kong

Today thousands of tourists visit Repulse Bay beach every day causing problems of littering, traffic and transport. The tourist number will continue to go up, so we have to think about what to do to keep tourism sustainable. 

 

Below you will find some ideas for measures or actions that could solve some of the problems. One thing that is clear to me is that there is no single solution for all the problems at the same time. That is why I have divided the problems to be solved in the three categories of littering, traffic and transport. Below are some of the main ideas that could help in promoting sustainable tourism and at the same time preserve the unique environment of Repulse Bay. 

 

Ways of dealing with littering:

 

- Better signage warnings about littering and smoking on the beach. On the one hand, the signage should aim to educate the visitors. On the other, the signs should make clear what the penalties are if a visitor litters or smokes on the beach. However if there are too many signs this can cause some areas of the beach to look ugly. Action: Government of Hong Kong, Leisure and Culture Services Department (LCSD).

 

- Educate tour guides so that they can inform and educate tourists. This may not always work as some guides might just not care. But education about littering is very important for the long term. Action: LCSD and tourist operators.

 

- Place more trash cans and empty them more frequently during the day when it is busy. The main disadvantage of this is that these trash cans can reduce the pristine look of the beach. A solution can be to make trash cans in wood. Action: LCSD.

 

- Mobilise the local community for regular beach cleanups and cleanups of surrounding roads. For example, schools and scouting groups can help. IB schools should be very willing to do this, as within the curriculum all students have to do community service, inside and outside the school. Action: LCSD and community groups and schools.

 

- More enforcement on the beach. This is very needed, right now there is far too little. The problem is that there are not enough police officers. Also, people do not want to be "policed" all the time while they are on the beach.  Action: LCSD and police department.

 

Ways of dealing with the traffic congestion and overcrowded transport:

 

- Increase the frequency of busses at peak times on weekends and on peak weekends and holidays. Also, add additional bus lines from regions not well served with bus connections with Repulse Bay. Action: Transport Bureau with LCSD and public bus companies. 

 

- Tour operators should coordinate with other tour operators so that they do not end up on the beach at the same time frame. The peaks of 200-300 busses per hour have to be reduced. Tour operators should design their tours in different ways, to spread traffic over the day. This is good for Repulse Bay, but is also good to avoid congestion at other tourist sites. Action: LCSD, transport bureau, tour operators and police department. 

 

- Create alternative ways of transport for tourists. The best option is a tourist ferry line from Central to Aberdeen to Repulse Bay to Stanley and back. The ferries can offer shopping opportunities and cafeterias where tourists can have a simple meal. However, boats should use clean engines and clean fuels. They must also have strict rules against littering and dumping refuse.  Action: LCSD, Transport Bureau and ferry operators.  

 

- Create extra parking space for tourist buses, to alleviate the congestion on Beach Road. However, as space is limited, there should be a parking fee.  

 

- Strict enforcement of rules against idling of engines. This is very needed, sometimes the air pollution and noise of idling buses on Beach Road is simply too bad. If repeated fines do not work, bus operators should be punished by suspending their licenses. But we must also educate the bus drivers, sometimes it seems as if they simply do not know what the problem is with idling engines. Action: Police department, Transport Bureau.

 

Creating sustainable tourism activities in Repulse Bay:

 

- Sea trips from one of the piers at Repulse Bay. This will give the tourists a more diverse experience of the bay and is very relaxing. On board there can be shopping and a cafeteria. Boats should use clean engines and there should be strict rules about littering and sewage. Action: LCSD, private operators.

 

- Creating a tourist walkway from the eastern side of Repulse Bay, via Middle Bay all the way to South Bay, similar to Sea-view Promenade on the western side of Repulse Bay. This can alleviate overcrowding a lot and make it much easier for visitors to reach other parts of Repulse Bay. The walkway could later even be extended to Chung Hom Kok Beach or to Stanley. Action: LCSD and Development Bureau.  

 

- Kayaking and rowing for tourists at Repulse Bay. Private operators could rent out some kayaks and row boats or small sailing boats. However, many of the tourists may not know how to swim or use a kayak so these activities might not be so busy. But it would be very attractive to local visitors. Action LCSD and private operators. 

 

- Introducing other sports in the area, such as tennis, table tennis, beach volley and beach soccer, scuba diving, etc. Focus should be on sports that do not cause noise. Action: LCSD and sports clubs.

 

Please give me your opinions on these suggests by going to the survey page.