The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government is considering introducing a tourist reservation system for visits to Po Pin Chau, a scenic island in the city’s Sai Kung East Country Park, as a pilot program for a wider move to tackle overtourism in countryside areas.
A document submitted to the Legislative Council by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) states that the authorities will review long-term crowd management strategies for hiking hotspots with reference to reported experiences of visitors during past holiday periods, with the aim of introducing measures to further develop ecotourism and strengthen environmental protection. The matter will be discussed at Monday's meeting of the Subcommittee to Study Matters Relating to “Ecology + Tourism”.
The proposals include introducing a reservation entry system to access certain popular hiking spots, thereby preventing high concentrations of tourists at hotspots and protecting infrastructure such as hiking trails.
The authorities are considering choosing Po Pin Chau to pilot the system as the number of tourists on the island and its nearby trails reached peak capacity on previous holidays.
If successful, this would become Hong Kong’s first country park hiking trail to require a reservation.
In addition, the government said the feasibility of incorporating several ecologically important sites into marine park protection zones will also be discussed at the meeting.
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For instance, the AFCD has suggested establishing the coral areas on the eastern and western areas of Sharp Island as a new marine park for better conservation.
Sharp Island, located in Sai Kung, boasts immense coral communities and has high marine ecological value.
According to the Marine Parks and Marine Reserves Regulation, once an area becomes a marine park, activities such as fishing, hunting, and collecting animals and plants within the zone are strictly prohibited. Waterskiing and fish farming are also banned.
Restrictions will also be applied to vessel navigation speeds, anchoring, barbecuing, and public gatherings within the marine park’s boundaries.
The government stressed that its strategy is to preserve Hong Kong's unique features and provide easy access to nature.
The approach to managing access to sites will be progressive, beginning with enhanced publicity and education to foster a mindset among visitors to embrace and protect nature.
Depending on the effectiveness of its measures, the government will evaluate whether stricter measures may be necessary.
