It’s just ‘green’ sun blocks for Redang soon

R.S.N. Murali, The Star 7 May 10;

DUBAI: Pulau Redang tourists will only be allowed to use eco-friendly sun block creams in future.

The Terengganu Government plans to ban other types of sun blocks which have high concentration of chemicals to block out the effects of the ultraviolet light that are detrimental to the rich marine life of the island.

To enforce the ban, the state government is planning to conduct a briefing for tourists heading to Pulau Redang on the type of sun block creams that they can carry.

State Heritage, Culture, Art and Tourism committee chairman Datuk Zaabar Mohd Adib said the briefing was intended to be conducted at entry points like the Sultan Mahmud Airport and the Shahbandar jetty that is the gateway to Pulau Redang.

“Hundreds of tourists apply creams while sunbathing on Pulau Redang and before they take a dip in the water. Because of the volume of tourists, residue from the cream settles on the seabed and, in the long run, damage the coral life.”

He said this yesterday when met at the Arabian Travel Market 2010 here.

Zaabar is leading the state government’s delegation to the travel exhibition that is being held at the Dubai Convention and Exhibition Hall here.

“There are creams that are eco-friendly and we want to create awareness from now on the type of cream that will be permitted on the island in the future,” he said.

Zaabar said Terengganu would continue to cap the number of tourists to Redang to 160,000 to protect the environment, especially from the numerous diving activities that impact the ecosystem.