A green group has called for long-term measures to tackle overtourism in Hong Kong’s scenic Sai Kung district after the number of tents at a campsite reached more than nine times its capacity on the second day of Lunar New Year, although authorities described the situation as “under control”.
Greenpeace said on Thursday that it had counted 585 tents at the Ham Tin Wan and Sai Wan campsites the previous day, far exceeding the designated capacity of 50 at each location. Ham Tin Wan had 450 tents while 135 were pitched at the other site.
“Our team observed that staff members were making public appeals to tourists at both sites. But damaging deeds, such as lighting campfires illegally and littering, emerged in the evening,” the group said.
It added that while such behaviour could have breached the Country Parks Ordinance, no law enforcement officers were seen patrolling the sites.
“This further proves that the authorities’ measures, following chaos at Sharp Island during the National Day holiday and at Ham Tin Wan on New Year’s Eve, are merely treating the symptoms rather than the cause, failing to tackle the root of overtourism,” it said.
Sharp Island, or Kiu Tsui Chau, in the same district, was overcrowded with tourists during mainland China’s National Day “golden week” break in October, with some visitors accused of damaging coral reefs.
