The curtain came down on the most momentous day for Hong Kong in 2021 after the results of the Legislative Council election were announced on Monday (“5 takeaways (and 1 surprise) from the Hong Kong Legislative Council election 2021”, December 20 ). The voter turnout rate was around 30 per cent , the lowest since the handover in 1997. The atmosphere at polling stations was dull and cheerless after peak hours, in stark contrast to the crowds that swarmed shopping centres, parks, as well as Disneyland and Ocean Park. Although the government said the free travel on polling day was meant to encourage people to go out and vote, it appears that the result was that those who planned other outings had an enjoyable day. Free public transport might end up being a more effective way to boost revenue for retailers during the Christmas and New Year season, instead of targeted measures such as the consumption voucher scheme . Additionally, the government must have anticipated a low voter turnout for the election. In the end, those who wanted to vote did so, and others who decided not to vote enjoyed a happy weekend taking advantage of the free travel. It seems that groups who take different political stances can coexist in harmony, instead of resorting to violence. Isn’t that the best outcome for Hong Kong under the current circumstances? Liao Sizhe, Sha Tin Ensure free rides are of some benefit I am not convinced that the free travel on trains, buses and trams on the day of the Legislative Council election effectively encouraged people to vote, given that the city logged a record low voter turnout on December 19. Many residents took advantage of the free rides to do Christmas shopping instead of casting their ballot. The government should have set up Octopus card readers at exits of the polling stations so only voters could tap their cards and enjoy the free rides. Nonetheless, sales data from shops around the city could be collected and analysed to assess whether the free rides had boosted consumer spending on Sunday. Such free services could be regularised if they proved helpful in stimulating the local economy. Lixiang Wan, Kowloon Tong Post-pandemic tourism should be eco-friendly I refer to the article “Thailand seeks ‘good tourists’ for beach from DiCaprio film amid nature’s fragile recovery” ( December 7 ). It has been two years since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic. Tourism has been one of the most affected sectors around the world. Research from the International Labour Organization shows that in Brunei Darussalam, Mongolia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam, tourism-related job losses were four times higher than non-tourism-related losses. An estimated 1.6 million tourism-related jobs were lost in these five countries alone. Many families are still waiting for their next overseas vacation, employees of travel agencies, hotels and the aviation industry are longing to get back to the job they enjoyed or perhaps the only job they have ever done, business owners are looking forward to steady revenue, and governments are hoping for tourism to revive the economy. Because it could take an unpredictably long time for the pandemic to end, it might be wise to start planning for an effective return of tourism now. But at the same time, the governments that are eyeing the economic benefits that the resumption of tourism could bring should also be thinking about how to help the spots previously affected by overtourism recover. The adverse environmental impact of an influx of tourists has been well documented. Thailand’s Phi Phi Island , which was highlighted in your report, is not alone; Bali in Indonesia, the Galapagos Islands in Ecuador and Mount Everest are all victims of tourism. Hygiene issues in theme parks, pollution on beaches, and the destruction of wildlife habitats in places well-known for their breathtaking scenery are not new. While the education system and government policies are often blamed for tourist misbehaviour , perhaps the focus should not be on educating tourists. Trying to get tourists to cooperate may take much time and effort as it would involve trying to fundamentally change people’s mindsets and habits, and these efforts may end up in vain. Eco-tourism could be the solution as it would help raise awareness of environmental problems, promote conservation efforts and sustain the well-being of local residents. Thailand, for example, is trying to adopt a more sustainable approach as tourism resumes. Still, collaboration between and the commitment of different parties is a prerequisite for increasing community support and ecosystem monitoring, securing financial resources, advancing the use of green technologies, and most importantly, avoiding overtourism. I would like to appeal to people worldwide to maintain a balance between recreation and the protection of our planet in our post-pandemic travel. Erin Lok, Quarry Bay How Malala can give Afghan women a boost Pakistani activist and Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, whose wedding made headlines last month, has been speaking out against the Taliban in Afghanistan for infringing on women’s rights and freedom, including keeping girls out of school. The Malala Fund is already doing work in Afghanistan, but it would be wonderful if a special scholarship could be set up for talented young Afghan women to study in British universities. The international community should also remember that Afghanistan is facing severe food shortages and is in dire need of humanitarian aid. K.M. Nasir, Mid-Levels
