Nature Tourism at Pui O Has Potential, But Needs Government Support
Nature tourism – in a very wide sense – might be one way of bringing some extra revenue to Pui O, and helping to reduce pressure for destruction of the remaining wetlands and other green areas that are of value for wildlife, and make Pui O a better place to visit and live in.
“Tourists” here meaning visitors, the vast majority of whom are Hong Kong people. So if can improve Pui O for tourism that benefits the local community, it will also benefit Hong Kong people.
Worldwide, nature tourism – including ecotourism, which should have higher ideals – can help benefit natural areas and local communities:
‘Nature tourism is defined as “discretionary travel to natural areas that conserves the environmental, social, and cultural values while generating an economic benefit to the local community”.
Nature tourism gives landowners a means to profit from conserving and managing their natural areas for recreation.”
https://valuewetlands.tamu.edu/land-use-goals-and-resources/nature-tourism
Here, in a US based article: “Fishing and hunting are traditional nature tourism activities, but bird watching, hiking and backpacking, horseback riding, camping, rock climbing, paddling, photography, and other enjoyable past times are a part of the nature tourism industry.”
This might seem wonderful, but in practice nature tourism is not always implemented properly.
In Hong Kong, nature tourism is rudimentary at best; this is perhaps partly because:
– Nature tourism revenues are relatively small, but long term
– Yet huge profits can be made from destructive projects, including buildings exploiting the small house system. These are short term, involve people losing their land rights; but huge quick profits are clearly attractive.
So, perhaps important for government to emphasise:
– If you own farmland, then it’s for farming, not building. Laws will be enforced. [Which, sadly, is too often not happening; cf plot of land with recently built hut and more at Pui O, many cases of farmland being abused across the New Territories.]
– So you cannot profit from the land, if not farming it; not by building anyway. BUT government will help try to find ways to raise revenue, through tourism.
I’ve spoken with a few people in Heung Yee Kuk, including Randy Yu, and they’ve told me that the government previously promised to help villagers in this way, but has not done so.
To me, does seem a huge need to enforce protection, guard against the wanton abuses of small house policy; and at the same time could help efforts at local tourism – which I believe the government rarely helps, but too often hinders (such as with regulations for small restaurants, hostels).
IF this can be achieved, perhaps can indeed make progress with “nature tourism”, and safeguarding Pui O’s natural environment.
It would be excellent if Pui O, and elsewhere on Lantau, could then serve as role models for nature tourism across Hong Kong.
Pui O Nature Tourism: Enhance What’s Already There
Already, Pui O has much to attract visitors. The great majority come for the beach in summer; but at least some also enjoy seeing the old paddyfields, the water buffalo, scenery and more.
Developing nature tourism here should rely on retaining and enhancing what’s already here.
Then, if there is initial success, further enhancements can be made.
Importantly, this is not about attracting hordes of visitors.
Instead, aiming to attract people who have some interest in nature, trying to boost awareness of Pui O nature among beachgoers – and encouraging a higher proportion of visitors to spend some money in the area.
What Can Nature Tourists Do?
Much as the above quoted article lists various activities in Texas, visitors can currently enjoy a range of pursuits at Pui O, such as:
Swimming, strolling and hiking, cycling, taking general photos including scenery, wildlife photography, camping, admiring and photographing water buffalo (and Billy the Cow!), and birdwatching.
How to Generate Income?
At present, income from visitors is mostly generated by restaurants; also small stores with food and drink, along with items for beachgoers.
This is likely to remain the case; but there is scope for improvement – such as by trying to inform visitors about the local shops and restaurants, encouraging more visitors to patronise them.
If the project succeeds, there will be opportunities for more restaurants; maybe an area with traditional foodstalls.
More revenue streams will be possible. Such as Bed and Breakfast accommodation, cycle hire, fees for local guides, even facilities for bird photographers; along with sales of souvenirs. A garden centre is evidently mainly for Lantau residents; but some visitors may also be interested in goods here.
Also look for other ideas, such as wedding photography; outdoor events (there’s been a full moon party at Pui O that might be developed); treasure hunts; photography contests.
Income Distribution within the Community?
One question that should be asked is whether it is advisable or possible to establish some kind of revenue distribution system.
This might not be simple to establish, but seems ideal for a fairer distribution of income – such as to reach landowners who support the tourism project but are unable to set up businesses themselves.
I’ve been to a village in the highlands of Java, Indonesia, where there was a scheme like this. At Gunung Halimun national park; while only few people were tourist guides or operated hostels, the aim was for some of the income to be shared amongst the community.
The renewed rice farming project at Yi O is a cooperative venture, with participating indigenous villagers [no longer living in Yi O] set to share in income that’s generated. Does show such agreements are possible in Hong Kong, even if not everyone opts in.
Lan Kwai Fong Association is said to have helped make the area successful, though not involved in income distribution. Shows cooperation can happen!
An alternative for income could be a sort of community fund – used to benefit Pui O.
Again, easier said than done, yet might be worthwhile.
Promotion Through Participating Businesses
Businesses participating in the Pui O Tourism Scheme [or however it’s named] can help to promote it, such as through having posters with maps and information.
Whilst they may be competitors, they are also partners in the project.
Likewise ideal if information is given by other related businesses – like New Lantao Bus Company, New World First Ferry, smaller operators such as shops with cycle hire in Mui Wo.
– Ideally, become part of a network of nature tourism on Lantau.
Enhancements for Tourism and Wildlife
Pui O Buffalo Trail
The feral water buffalo are surely the iconic animals of Pui O; perhaps nowhere else in the world has feral water buffalo quite like Pui O. Also of note, Asian Water Buffalo is a globally endangered species.
Hence, the water buffalo can be adopted as a key attraction (yes, one that should be treated with respect); and could lend their name to a trail through the area.
This trail can follow existing footpaths, as well as the road to the beach – taking people through former paddyfields, past streams and the mouth of the stream, alongside the beach, as well as with options for walking along the South Lantau Road through Pui O (see map).
Signage seems advisable; so too a map available online rather than .
Map signs and information can indicate local scenes and wildlife – with information such as on ways Cattle Egrets and mynahs follow water buffalo to find food (recalling scenes in Africa!), other birds to look out for, fish that breed in the tidal stream, dragonflies and butterflies to look out for.
Also, importantly for encouraging tourism, can indicate participating businesses, especially restaurants and shops.
The trail should also indicate other places to visit, such as by walking or cycling to Shap Long and the Chi Ma Wan Peninsula, heading to Mui Wo, taking buses to Cheung Sha, Shui Hau, Tai O and other south Lantau destinations.
Wetland Improvements
Nature conservation is not about simply keeping habitats unchanged, frozen in time; wetlands can require more management than various protected habitats.
While the Pui O wetland is in decline, especially thanks to piecemeal destruction, there is surely a great opportunity for improvements to be made.
At the simplest, these can involve excavating small pools with shallow shores, and maybe small islands.
These pools can ensure that wet areas remain even during protracted dry spells.
They will attract more wildlife, with birds perhaps the most visible of these. Larger birds like egrets, herons and ducks could be readily seen by most visitors; other birds will include more migratory sandpipers and other shorebirds, along with colourful kingfishers.
It would even be possible to create a lagoon along with simple observation blinds [hides] for watching and photographing birds – somewhat like at Hong Kong Wetland Park, or the marshy pools of Long Valley.
Water buffalo will surely wallow in these pools and graze the grass around them, continuing as “architects” of the Pui O wetland.
Coastal Scrub for Butterflies
Some plants along the coast are very attractive to butterflies, especially to colourful Common Tigers that migrate to Hong Kong in late autumn. These plants do not look particularly special, yet deserve protection, and nurturing.
Plant Native Trees
There is scope for planting native trees in a few places; perhaps even creating a small wood – which will in turn attract wildlife. Species favoured could be attractive to look at, as well as attracting butterflies, birds and other creatures.
– While adding native trees, perhaps remove at least some of the non-native trees. Perhaps along the banks of the tidal stretch of stream.
Beautify Pui O
Pui O village is not attractive; grown in the haphazard fashion that has become all too typical of rural Hong Kong in recent years.
Yet consider some older villages with traditional houses: several showed they were developed with pride and foresight, and with a great sense of aesthetics.
It may be just a dream; but great if Pui O could likewise adopt some development to make it more attractive overall. Maybe car scrapyard could be relocated or at least tidied up, other sites enhanced or changed; various plants added in open areas.
Maybe even do so in conjunction with a Beautiful Lantau Village award – echoing awards overseas, as long ago suggested in Hong Kong but not implemented. (With “Beauty” including having wilder parts attracting butterflies.)
Photos to Indicate the Potential
Pui O Buffalo Trail (main trail in red); and very rough indications of possible new pools
Cattle Egret with a buffalo; a scene typical of Pui O today
Pui O beach; helps show this is an area of outstanding natural beauty
There are buffalo friends and fans, who could help look after the buffalo and cows
Pui O wetland is suffering from piecemeal destruction and development
Ideally, rubble like this would be removed to restore wetland; the rubble could then be used in other ways [as platform for visitor facility, or embankment near pool so birds and other wildlife don’t see people walking nearby]
Egrets are especially common during migration seasons; but could breed in numbers if there’s a suitable small wood.
Common Tigers at Pui O, late autumn.
Scarborough, a village (tiny town) in Cape Town, South Africa.
Lived in, but looks good, partly as a heritage area with planning and planning controls.
‘This town was designated as a conservation village in April 1996, defined as “a residential area of limited extent, surrounded by a conserved natural landscape, committed to reverse past environmental damage and to avoid future environmental impacts.”‘ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough,_Cape_Town
Lai Chi Wo: a reminder that Hong Kong villages were not always built haphazardly, but sometimes with sense of aesthetics and pride. And, there’s a village revitalisation project here; may be of some interest for Pui O even tho Pui O is full of residents.
Traditional snacks are among items on sale in Dapeng Old Town [Old City], eastern Shenzhen – which retains historic appearance even while attracting tourists. Interesting character; not at all like typical urban districts.
Xincheng Old Street, Bed & Breakfast place in Taiwan.
B&B places are commonplace worldwide; should be well suited to rural Hong Kong including Pui O.