After weeks of announcements, petitions and denials, the Son Doong Cave cable car project has come to a screeching halt.

On Wednesday, Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism released a statement saying that the project lacked “sufficient input” from UNESCO and the International Union for Conservation of Nature.

“Therefore, the construction of the cable car cannot be incorporated into the aggregate planning of the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park [home to Son Doong Cave] at this stage,” said the release.

After news broke that a $220 million cable car would be built through portions of the Cave, the response was overwhelming negative. Many were stunned that a plan, meant to lure troves of tourists, would likely lead the to degradation of this natural wonder.

The public outcry led to petition signed by nearly 65,000 people, followed by a denial by provincial authorities who said that the cable cars would be built outside of the cave.

Head over to Thanh Nien for an excellent overview of the World’s largest cave and the controversy that surrounds it. 

[Image via John Spies]