On any given day during peak season, more than 100 boats illegally ferry tourists to the postcard-perfect island of Redang, according to marine conservationist Muhaimin Hou.
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That’s 1,000 people flooding a fragile ecosystem off Malaysia’s eastern state of Terengganu, bringing with them a wave of destruction: coral damage caused by careless boat operators, piles of rubbish left on pristine beaches and an unchecked strain on the island’s natural resources.
“The problem with day trippers is that their boatmen and guides are not from Redang,” said Muhaimin, an assistant programme manager with the conservation group Reef Check Malaysia. “They don’t know where to put down anchor … they don’t even know that you can’t feed the turtles.”
And then there’s the trash. “Day trippers will gather at Teluk Dalam Beach to have their pre-packed lunches. After they eat, they just leave their waste there. We are facing an overload of waste,” he said.
A paradise in peril
Redang is one of Malaysia’s crown jewels, a haven for marine biodiversity that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year.