Development of sustainable ecotourism at ramsar site Mui Ca Mau

VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 201 DEVELOPMENT OF SUSTAINABLE ECOTOURISM AT RAMSAR SITE MUI CA MAU Phung Anh Kien 1 , Vu Anh Tuan 2 , Nguyen Tan Trung 3 1,2, 3 Van Hien University 1 KienPA@vhu.edu.vn Received: 27/3/2017; Accepted: 06/6/2017 ABSTRACT Ca Mau national park (located in Ca Mau province) is recognized by Ramsar international convention – UNESCO as the 5th Ramsar site in Vietnam. The site has many advantages and potentials to develop tourism, especially ecotourism. However, the activities utilized to develop tourism in the site are not very considerable in comparison with its available potentials. This paper states the author’s viewpoint of the existing actualities, the exploitable potential, and suggests some feasible solutions for the development of sustainable ecotourism at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau. Keywords: Ramsar site, Mui Ca Mau, sustainable ecotourism, Ca Mau, wetlands. TÓM TẮT Phát triển du lịch sinh thái bền vững tại khu Ramsar mũi Cà Mau Vườn quốc gia Mũi Cà Mau (tỉnh Cà Mau) được công ước Ramsar quốc tế - Unessco công nhận là khu Ramsar thứ 5 tại Việt Nam. Đây là khu vực có nhiều lợi thế và tiềm năng để phát triển du lịch, đặc biệt là du lịch sinh thái. Tuy nhiên, hiện nay hoạt động phát triển du lịch vẫn chưa phản ánh đúng so với tiềm năng vốn có của nó. Nội dung bài báo sẽ trình bày những nội dung có liên quan đến tiềm năng, hiện trạng, những vấn đề cần đặt ra và một số giải pháp phát triển du lịch sinh thái bền vững tại khu Ramsar Mũi Cà Mau. Từ khóa: khu Ramsar, Mũi Cà Mau, du lịch sinh thái bền vững, Cà Mau, đất ngập nước. 1. Introduction Mui Ca Mau national park is recognized by Ramsar international convention – UNESCO as the Ramsar site on 13 th April 2013 and is the 2088 th Ramsar site of the world. (Currently, Vietnam has five Ramsar sites, including 2 in the northern region and 3 in the south. The northern region-based Ramsar sites are Xuan Thuy Natural Wetland Reserve in Nam Dinh province and the Ba Be Lake in the mountainous province of Bac Kan, which were recognized in 1988 and 2011, respectively. The southern ones are Bau Sau in the Cat Tien National Park in Dong Nai province, Tram Chim National Park in southern province of Dong Thap and Con Dao National Park in Ba Ria – Vung Tau province which were recognized in 2005, 2012 and 2013 respectively. The Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau is an area of over 41,800 hectares, located in Dat Mui Commune, Vien An (Ngoc Hien district) and Dat Moi Commune, Lam Hai (Nam Can district), Ca Mau province. Geographically, this site belongs to coastal mangrove swamp. TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC ĐẠI HỌC VĂN HIẾN TẬP 5 SỐ 2 202 Although it is not very diversified in genera and species, it has its own unique features of fauna and flora. It is home to 93 species of birds, 26 mammal species, 43 species of reptiles, 9 species of amphibians and 233 species of aquatic creatures; of which there are many unusual and valuable ones such as Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea), grey pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Southeast Asian box turtle (Cuora amboinensis), smail-eating turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga), large-spotted civet cat (Civettictis civetta), yellow- headed temple turtle (Hieremys annandale), black marsh turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis), Southeast Asian softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), etc... These are key potential for developing tourism, attracting tourists themselves to the area for their own visiting, observing, studying and researching. It will bring significant economic benefits and contribute to the important conservation of natural sources of Ramsar site along with local economic development. However, inadequate exploitation, poor conservation management lead to degradation of biodiversity and the profit gained from tourism is not very commensurate with inherent potential of the Ramsar site. Therefore, in order to develop tourism sustainably in general and ecotourism in particular and make it into the key advantage of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau, the government has to make a lot of effort in making proper plans, promulgating suitable investment policies, exploiting and developing tourism in association with conserving ecosystem and biodiversity... to ensure the sustainable development objectives. 2. Comparative advantages in developing tourism of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau The Ramsar site Ca Mau is located from 8 o32’ - 8o49’ north latitude to 104 o40’ - 104o55’ east longitude. The total area is about 41.802 hectares, including terrestrial and coastal areas. The terrestrial areas or the mainland has 9,610 hectares; these areas are organized into many functional sections such as the strict protection zone of 6,455.1 hectares, ecological restoration zone of 2,907.6 hectares and service administrative zone of 247.3 hectares. The rest of them belong to the coastal areas, the coastal areas is reported of 32,192 hectares. It is also divided into many sections like the strict protection marine zone of 6,561 hectares and marine ecosystem zone of 25,631 hectares. The Ramsar site has an excellent biological diversity thanks to the existence of its numerous species (flora and fauna) as follows: The forestry, flora and fauna ecosytems The flora: The Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau has 27 in 32 mangrove species that have been found in Vietnam, and 28 other botanical species joining the flora system of this land, of which the most popular species are bakau minyak (Rhizhophora apiculata), Acanthaceae (Avicennia alba), marsh-mallow (Althaea officinalis), white mangrove (Avicennia marina) and Rhizophoraceae (Brunguienra gymnorrhiza). Along with those is the flora population include the natural secondary forest, a combination of Rhizhophora, Bruguiera and Avicenia. VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 203 The fauna - Species of animals: There are 26 species of 11 families and 8 orders. - Species of birds: There are 93 species of birds of 33 families and 9 orders; 11 rare and valuable species, 7 of 11 ones are listed into national endangered species, 7 ones are endangered globally, and 1 species is marked in the Decree 32/2006/ND-CP of the Government. It is said: “This is a rare and precious genetic resource and is preserved nationally and internationally”. - Reptiles and amphibians: There are 43 reptile species of 12 families and 2 orders; 9 amphibian species of 5 families and 2 orders. These figures indicate that the reptiles are relatively major but the amphibians are minor. Species of fish input of Mui Ca Mau - Species of fish and benefits: In 2010, there were 139 fish species of 21 orders and 55 families and 89 species. Many of them are considered as rare and precious and high economic valuable. [7] - Crustacean species: In 2010, there were 53 crustacean species of 30 species and 18 families and 4 orders. [7] - Mollusks species: In 2010, there were 63 species of 9 orders and 28 families and 8 species. [7] - Zooplankton species: In 2010, there were 49 species of Copepoda, Cladocera, crustacean larvae, larval echinoderms, jellyfish, marine samples, shrimp, etc... The group crustacean copepods are major, occupying 36 species (73, 5%). [7] - On the west of the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau, most of the coastal areas are tidal mudflats, therefore, the depth is very shallow and currents are rarely mixed. This makes the small species take the majority. They belong to Paracalanidae, Pontellidae, Oithonidae, and Oncaeidae. [7] Marine biological resources and coastal Westland areas The coastal areas of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau are highly diversified in term of ecosystem. Besides the inhabitant agglomeradation of mangrove forests is the biggest area in Vietnam. It is also characterized by the inhabitant agglomeradation of the estuary, tidal areas, and sub-tidal areas. [7] Table 1: Information and comparative advantages of Ramsar sites in Vietnam Name and location of in Ramsar site Year of recognition Areas (hectares) Biological profits and diversity Mui Ca Mau (Ca Mau province) 4/2013 41,802ha It is a model of sustainable conservation of mangroves resource. It is of wetland ecosystem with: - Vegetation characteristics such as Aegiceras florida, Bruguiera gymnorryza, Bruguiera gymnorriza, mangroves, indigo... - Animal species of 93 bird species, 26 mammal species, 43 reptiles, 9 amphibians, 233 aquatic creatures. Many of them are rare and valuable such as Asian small-clawed otter (Aonyx cinerea), grey pelican (Pelecanus philippensis), Chinese Egret (Egretta eulophotes), Southeast Asian box turtle TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC ĐẠI HỌC VĂN HIẾN TẬP 5 SỐ 2 204 Name and location of in Ramsar site Year of recognition Areas (hectares) Biological profits and diversity (Cuora amboinensis), smail-eating turtle (Malayemys subtrijuga), large-spotted civet cat (Civettictis civetta), yellow-headed temple turtle (Hieremys annandale), black marsh turtle (Siebenrockiella crassicollis), Southeast Asian softshell turtle (Amyda cartilaginea), etc.... Xuan Thuy (Nam Dinh province) 12/2004 12,000 ha Flora: 120 high-level species, over 3,000ha of the mangrove forest. Fauna: 107 fish species, 500 aquatic creatures, 220 bird species (over 150 migration species, 9 of them are in the red list, over 10 mammal species (dolphins, otters, etc...). many Reptiles, amphibians and birds (egret, pelican, spotted greenshank). Bau Sau (Cat Tien National park) 8/2005 13,759 ha A Wetland area along the riverside, it has the most unique features of natural ecological environment, with outstanding values and functions. It is ideal for preserving biodiversity of South-eastern region. There are 127 species of 55 families, and about 50 species of rare flora and fauna, 131 uncommon fish species, 6 turtle species, many types of bird species and a special kind of crocodile. Ba Be (Bac Kan province) 2/2011 7,610 ha, Just Ba Be lake: 500 ha Existing wonderful landscapes: Bat Cave, Puong Cave, Na Phoong Cave, Tham Kit Cave, etc... Ba Be lake is recognized as one of the most beautiful 20 lakes in the world, also as ASEAN heritage garden. The very famous system of specially utilized forests of Vietnam including many diversified freshwater habitats such as white cheek primate (Trachypithecus francoisi) which are distributed limitedly. Cham Chim (Dong Thap province) 2/2012 7.313ha Cham Chim includes nearly 3000 hectares of indigoes forests and 1,000 hectares of wild rice, lotus, water lilies, grasses, contrition, which features on the preservation of the integrity of wetland ecosystems in the Mekong region. There are over 250 species of water birds, over 100 species of freshwater fish, 190 species of vascular plants, many species of amphibians, reptiles and other plankton. Especially, there are 32 rare birds of the world such as white- winged duck, pig Owl brown back, black eagle, white-rumped shama, royal spoon bill, bustards, herons, flamingos, etc. Con Dao (Ba Ria - Vung 6/2013 20,000ha The forest animals include 144 species (28 mammal species, 69 species of birds, 3 species of reptiles, 8 VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 205 Name and location of in Ramsar site Year of recognition Areas (hectares) Biological profits and diversity Tau) species of amphibians). The marine ecosystem include 1,321 species of 23 flora of the Wetland, 127 types of seaweed, 7 species of sea-grass, 157 species of phytoplankton, 115 species of phytoplankton, 219 species of coral... 37 species of them are listed the Red Book of Vietnam. Source: [1] 3. The development of tourism at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau 3.1. The development of tourist destinations and routes The available tourist destinations: Currently some attractions at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau are operating to serve tourists as the follows: Mui Ca Mau Culture and Tourism Park: Ca Mau Cape is Vietnam’s southernmost province, located in Mui hamlet, Dat Mui commune, Ngoc Hien district, Ca Mau province; it is 120 km far from Ca Mau City, and 480 km far from Ho Chi Minh City. Ong Trang Islet: located within Ramsar site and lied at the estuary of Cai Lon River which flows through the western warp islet of Vien An commune, Ngoc Hien ward, Ong Trang Islet is known as one of the most attractive tourist destinations of Mui Ca Mau. Khai Long tourism site: A beautiful destination with golden sandy beaches twisting along the shore of Khai Long hamlet, Dat Mui village, Ngoc Hien Ward. The total area is about 230 ha with the coastal length of 3,800 meters, and 18km far from Ca Mau Cape tourism area. Tourists can be sailed 90 kilometers by canoes to Khai Long tourist site from Ca Mau City. Available tourist routes: There are some routes to be exploiting in Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau including internal routes at the site and linking routes. However, the internal tourist itineraries in Ramsar site have not been much exploited, just the combination and connection tours are approachable to the Ramsar site. Most of the tour programs to Mui Ca Mau are designed on a one-day tour, and the last destination is as usual, the landmark of national coordinate - GPS001, a form of a boat with a filled-wind sail in the Mui Ca Mau Culture – Tourism Park. These tour programs are boring and monotonous that make tourists spend less money during their trip. Generally, the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau tours are too uninterested for the travelers to return. 3.2. The development of various tourism forms Together with the existing advantages of natural and cultural resources and the placement of the last landmark of national coordinate of the southernmost of the S- shaped country, the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau is developing two tourism forms - eco-tourism and community-based tourism. Additionally, Khai Long potential beach is more and more growing to meet tourists' needs. This is ideal for leisure tourism and TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC ĐẠI HỌC VĂN HIẾN TẬP 5 SỐ 2 206 coastal tourism. Homestay tourism: to develop tourism associated with to conserve the ecosystem of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau, since March of 2013 an 800- million-dong pilot project (PES project) has been made and sponsored by SIDA - a Sweden organization to carry out the admission - fee collection for coastal water-land ecosystem services aiming to reduce the poverty of local people’s lives. According to the plan, 20 households will be chosen and supported with necessary equipments and money in the purpose of developing and conserving the environment and biodiversity by supplying homestay activities for tourists such as accommodations, fishing, crab fishing, catching shells and shrimps, cooking, and living together with local people, taking part in daily livelihood and cultural activities such as “đờn ca tài tử” (one of Vietnam’s traditional kinds of music), etc. Besides, surrounded with many traditional craft villages, festivals, custom and spiritual practice of the local people, the cultural tourism is gradually being developed in Ca Mau. Many interesting cultural activities are possible to meet the tourists' pleasure and experiences such as traditional festivals, custom and spiritual practice, traditional craft villages... Generally, Ca Mau province has its own great potential to develop cultural tourism and other natural tourism forms. 3.3. Tourist arrivals and revenues Tourist arrivals Tourist arrivals of the province in general and the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau in particular have increased annually. Table 2: Tourist arrivals of Ramsar Ca Mau in comparison with the whole tourist arrivals of Ca Mau province from 2011 to 2015, Unit: tourist Description 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 Total tourist arrivals Ca Mau 780.000 803.160 850.500 912.284 986.550 Ramsar site 41.699 53.481 64.648 82.325 96.150 International Ca Mau 16.000 17.060 18.150 20.500 21.050 Ramsar site 3.930 5.150 6.100 7.560 9.243 Domestic Ca Mau 764.000 786.100 832.350 891.784 965.500 Ramsar site 37.769 48.331 58.540 74.765 86.907 Source: Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau province and Department of Eco- tourism and Environmental Education at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau According to the statistics, the number of tourists to Ca Mau and Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau has increased annually. The tourist arrivals of Ca Mau in 2015 increased 126.5% compared to 2011 (986,550/ 780,000 tourists). The number of visitors to Ramsar site in 2015 increased by 130.6% compared to 2011 (96,150/ 41,699 VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 207 tourists). However, tourist arrivals of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau compared to the province is quite modest, in 2011 the number of visitors to the Ramsar site accounted for 5.3% (41,699/ 780,000 tourists), in 2015 the tourist arrivals increased 9.7% (96.150/ 986.550 tourists). In addition, most visitors to Ca Mau and Ramsar site are domestic ones. In 2011, the domestic tourist arrivals of the whole province accounted for 97.85% (764,000/ 780,000 tourists), but the international tourist arrivals only accounted for 2.05% (16,000/ 780,000 tourists). In 2015, domestic visitors accounted for 97.9% (965,500/ 986,550 tourists) and 2.1% international visitors (21,050/ 986,550 tourists). However, the international arrivals in Ramsar site are much outweighed the domestic arrivals, by 9.4% (3,930/ 41,600 tourists) in 2011, up by 0.2% to 9.6% in 2015 (9,243/ 96,150 tourists). The domestic visitors increased by 90.4% in 2011 (37.769/ 41.600 tourists) and 90.6% in 2015 (86.907/ 96.150 visitors) respectively. Tourist Revenues According to the estimation of Ca Mau Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the tourist revenues of Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau has an annual growth of 12 billion dong to 14 billion dong. 3.4. The situation of tourist labor force Until 2013, Ca Mau has a total of 3,200 employees working in tourism industry, of whom, 150 have the Bachelor’s degree or above; 200 have Associate’s degree or Vocational degree; 500 were trained from unrelated industries, and the rest (2348) have not been trained yet. The number of employees of four communes of Ca Mau Ramsar site is 40,582 people at working age, in which 70% work in agriculture, forestry and fish- breeding. According to Nam Can district’s statistics, until 2009, 57,5% of the whole labors worked in agricultural, forestry and fish-breeding industry, only 32% worked in service industry as a whole (including commerce, transport, finance and tourism). Even in the management board of the Ramsar site (namely ecotourism and environmental education department), there are only 5 employees (2015), but no one has been trained in tourism. The shortage of human resources in quantity and quality is a big challenge for the development of tourism in Ca Mau Ramsar site. 3.5. Issues on the protection of environmental resources towards the development of tourism The protection of the environment and natural resources is interested by the authorities of Ca Mau province and the management board of Ramsar site. However, the biodiversity has been being decreased alarmingly especially there has been considerable reduction of the area of the mangrove forest because of the negative impact of economic development, the change in local people’s livelihood, the permanent soil erosion, and the insufficiency in the management of the reserve site. Furthermore, the deforestation and illegal fishing in the Ramsar site are happening uncontrollably, along with the rise of the sea level due to climate change and natural disasters. TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC ĐẠI HỌC VĂN HIẾN TẬP 5 SỐ 2 208 3.6. Some concerns in the development of tourism at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau - The investment in making new tourism products is much difficult and the source of investment capital in tourism is limited. The investment projects have been deploying in tourism slowly compared with the requirement. - Infrastructure has not been completely improved; tours and routes connections among the tourist attractions have not done well. These disadvantages have caused many negative impacts on tourism activities as well as the development of new tourism products. - The tourism companies have many problems in management, and lack of creativity in making the new and fascinating tours. Orientation of government organizations in the development of tourism has not been adequately concentrated. Therefore, developing the special forms of tourism such as MICE tourism; ecotourism; cultural and historical tourism; and adventurous tourism, which Ca Mau has potentials to develop, has not been clearly determined. - The coordination and collaboration between the government organizations and tourism enterprises is not very closed and does not meet the current development’s requirements - The potentials of development of tourism in Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau have not been assessed properly yet. - Promoting tourism is not good enough to attract tourists, and there is not a specific website for the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau to advertise its tourism products to tourists. - The illegal entry of the local people into the Ramsar site is worse and worse in order to exploit seafood, cut trees for charcoal, etc... - The disputation of land between the local people and the Ramsar’s management board has been happening for years mostly in buffer zones, which needs to to adequately address this problem. - The negative impact of tourism development may expose. These problems faced are environment pollution and waste disposal, etc. - The workforce of local tourism, especially ecotourism guides are not available. - The development of tourism will easily cause bad effects on the species of plants and animals as well as the biological diversity of the National Park and on the daily livelihood of the local people who live in the buffer zones of the National Park. - In particular, the worse happening of the climate change and rise of sea level will have significant impacts on the development of tourism, environmental protection, and the prevention of saltwater intrusion into the Ramsar site. 4. Some solutions for sustainable ecotourism development at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau 4.1. To focus towards investment in developing the advantageous form of tourism Diversify the tourism products and identify the differential form of tourism in Ramsar site include the followings: - Sight-seeing tourism (visiting the VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 209 natural scenery, mangrove forests...) - Ecotourism associated with conservation activities (this is the advantage of Ca Mau Ramsar). - Cultural tourism associated with the advantage of being the southernmost point of the country with rich cultural and historical values. - Furthermore, there may be a combination of ecotourism with cultural, historical tourism visiting the historical sites (the vestiges system of the end of Ho Chi Minh Trail, landmarks associated with revolutionist Phan Ngoc Hien); research tourism (the observation of wildlife and flora ...). 4.2. Build, complete internal itineraries system of the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau Some itineraries within Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau can be exploited as follows: - Route 1: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Canal 5 – Xang Moi Canal – Hai Thien Canal – Vam Arroyo – Tau Arroyo – National Garden; The tour's length: 21 km; Transport mean: water. - Route 2: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Canal 5 – Xang Moi Canal – Xeo Moi Canal – Ong Trang Islet – Marine Reservation Office – Cai Moi Station or Two Station – National Garden; The length of the tour is 42 km – this is the longest route of those in Ca Mau National Park. Take this route, travelers can return to Nam Can through Ong trang without returning the National Garden; Transport mean: water. - Route 3: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Rach Arroyo – Dat Mui Market – Dao Canal – Mui Ca Mau Resort Center – Bau Nho Canal – Vam Arroyo – National Park; Transport mean: water conbine with motor bike or bicycle; The route’s length: 13 km. - Route 4: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Canal 5 – Xang Moi Canal – Khai Long Station 2 – Bai Boi – Xang Moi Canal – Vam Arroyo – National Garden; Transport mean: water; The route’s length: 22 km. - Route 5: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Rach Cai Moi – Khai Long Cai Moi Station – Khai Long Station 2 – Xang Moi Canal – Rach Vam – Rach Bau Nho – Dat Mui Resort – Dat Mui Market – National Park; The length of the route: 30 km; Transport mean: water. - Route 6: Itinerary: Starting at the Reception Center of the National Garden – Khai Long Resort – Cai Moi River – Khai Long Cai Moi Station – Khai Long Station 2 Alluvial Ground – Xang Moi Canal – Vam Arroyo – National Park; The route’s length: 35 km; Transport means: Water. 4.3. Train and improve the quality of human resource Human plays a key role in tourism development. Therefore, one of the most important missions that need to be considered by Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau is a skilled staff of well - equipped with management knowledge, professionalism in tourism, tourism knowledge of different types. And the most important is that they need trained knowledge of ecology, good information and principles of environment protection and sustainable development of tourism. TẠP CHÍ KHOA HỌC ĐẠI HỌC VĂN HIẾN TẬP 5 SỐ 2 210 4.4. Complete and increase the quality of tourism infrastructure and facilities In order to run the tourism operation smoothly and to assure the sustainable development in the future, the investment and enhancement the infrastructure and tourism facilities need doing the followings: Increase the capital of investment in renovating and upgrading the infrastructures, such as roads, bridges and projects that lead to Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau, the system of technical and material facilities used to serve tourism like traffic, electricity, water at the resorts, tourist sites; promote the construction of biological preservation areas of specific types of valuable plant in the region to serve those who want to do researching and educating. 4.5. To quickly complete policies, approaches to promulgate and educate the conservation of environment resources The tourism development in the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau can has negative impacts to environment and forest ecosystems. Therefore, the limitation and problem-solving should be done to qualify the ecological surroundings to meet the tourist requirements. Strengthen propaganda measures towards the local people, tourists and related organizations about environmental and biological diversity protection for the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau. 4.6. Appeal to domestic and foreign investment Consolidate the regulations of investment incentives in tourism in Ca Mau province. Promulgate incentive policies and ensure safety of investors' capital and simplify the administrative procedures to attract domestic and foreign investors. The mechanisms and policies must include a special mechanism and legal regulations to be suitable not only with the national law, but also with the international ones, and with the regular law of tourism in the world. 4.7. To strengthen promote tourism product Perform the propaganda and education; provide information of tourism products, travel services, tourism routes and destinations in the Ramsar site. This is necessary issue in the tourism development program. Using various forms to promote for tourism product of the Ramsar site, that’s including: - To build a handbook on tourism products, routes and destinations; - To build photo postcards to introduce landscapes and biodiversity resources of the Ramsar site; - Distributing leaflets that guide visitors to visit ecotourism sites in the Ramsar site; - Constructing and distributing of video clips to introduce ecotourism in the Ramsar site; - Propaganda promoting tourism product on the Internet, newspapers, local television. The Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau management should combine with the centre of Tourism Information and Promotion Ca Mau province to involve in tourism-related VAN HIEN UNIVERSITY JOURNAL OF SCIENCE VOLUME 5 NUMBER 2 211 activities such as ITE International Tourism Fair, Tourism Fair in Ho Chi Minh City... along with other tourism activities domestically and internationally to promote Ca Mau tourism’s image in general and tourism in the Ramsar site Mui Ca in particular to tourists. 5. Conclusion To be able to contribute to the research ‘Development of sustainable ecotourism at Ramsar site – Mui Ca Mau”, the research group has highlighted the comparative advantages to develop tourism, especially ecotourism at Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau. Then, we raise the current status and some problems of tourism development at the Ramsar site. Based on this status and the tourism potential needed for tourism development at the Ramsar site, and the demands of tourism development of the local and the society, the authors suggest some suitable and feasible solutions in order to develop ecotourism at the Ramsar site Mui Ca Mau in the expectation of economic effectiveness and the conservation of biological diversity and sustainable development./. REFERENCES [1] Hau P. X., Tuyen T. T. T., 2015. Sustainable Ecotourism Development in Ramsar Bau Sau Site - Cat Tien National Park, Journal of Science - Van Hien University, Nov 2015, pp.30-37. [2] Hoa N. D., Hien V. V., 2001. Sustainable Tourism, National University Publishing House, Hanoi. [3] Kien P. A., 2015. Tourism Development in Mui Ca Mau Ramsar - Current status and solutions, Master thesis on Tourism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Hanoi National University. [4] People's Committee of Ngoc Hien District, 2012. 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