Digital transformation and green transformation in the tourism business.

Resorts in the community-based ecotourism area of Pu Luong focus on green transformation, using environmentally friendly materials.

Thanh Hoa has risen to become one of the top provinces nationwide in terms of tourist numbers. Along with this growth, tourist demands have also shifted towards personalized experiences, smart services, and a more responsible and friendly tourism environment. This requires tourism businesses in the province to rapidly transform themselves through digital transformation. To date, 4-5 star hotels in the province have implemented software such as Staff app & Esign for scanning citizen ID cards, HMS for managing accommodation and rooms, integrated online booking, and automated check-in... to enhance the experience and convenience for tourists. In addition, they provide electronic invoices, digital menus, and online table reservations to optimize service processes and significantly reduce paper usage annually.

Meanwhile, the province's community-based ecotourism areas are focusing on development alongside digital and green transformation. To date, all accommodation and food service establishments in Pu Luong, Ma village, But village, Nang Cat village, Cam Luong fish stream, etc., accept cashless payments, book services through digital platforms, limit single-use plastics, and increase the use of environmentally friendly materials. This not only helps reduce operating costs but also impresses international tourists – a group of travelers particularly interested in sustainability. At some cultural tourism sites such as Lam Kinh and Ho Dynasty Citadel, audio guides, digital maps, and virtual reality (VR) experiences have been implemented to help tourists access heritage sites in a more vivid way, aligning with the growing trend of experiential and green tourism.

According to Nguyen Ha Phuong, Sales Director of VNplus Travel Company (Hac Thanh Ward), digital transformation has helped businesses significantly expand their market, even during the off-season.

“Previously, businesses relied heavily on traditional group tours, but since investing in advertising platforms, online booking systems, and customer service, our number of individual customers has increased by 15-20% each quarter. Meanwhile, tourists now search for information and book services almost entirely through digital devices. Therefore, businesses that keep up with digital transformation will have the opportunity to reach a wider customer base and retain customers longer. But more importantly, digital transformation helps us understand customer needs better, thereby designing products and services that are more suitable,” Ms. Phuong said.

In recent times, the provincial authorities and departments have paid special attention to supporting businesses in digital transformation and green transformation through projects on human resource training, technology transfer, building a smart tourism ecosystem, and encouraging sustainable business models. Some of the province's smart tourism applications include digital tourism maps and destination information systems.

The tourism website has been upgraded, making it easier for tourists to access information and provide timely feedback. In addition, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with relevant departments and agencies to support businesses in digital transformation and guide the development of green tourism products for businesses in community-based ecotourism areas.

Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association, Phung Quang Thang, stated, "Thanh Hoa has many favorable conditions for digital transformation and green transformation, thanks to its large market, diverse products, and rapid infrastructure investment. However, the challenge lies in the transformation capacity of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) – a large proportion of the tourism ecosystem. If businesses receive support in training, access to technology, preferential capital, and model examples to learn from, the transformation process will be faster. In the coming period, Thanh Hoa province needs to continue orienting tourism development towards sustainability and smart solutions, with businesses and the community at the center. This is not only a trend but also a key to helping Thanh Hoa tourism enhance its competitiveness, attract high-quality tourists, and achieve stable development in the future."

To date, many tourism businesses in the province still face difficulties in implementing digital transformation due to limitations in technological human resources, high initial investment costs, or a lack of genuine concern for sustainable benefits. Some 1-3 star accommodation establishments have not yet invested in centralized data management systems and smart tourism applications. Furthermore, the adoption of green tourism models by businesses in some destinations is sometimes merely superficial, lacking specific procedures, leading to unclear effectiveness.

In fact, digital transformation and green transformation are not just adaptive requirements, but are becoming driving forces, creating a competitive advantage for tourism businesses. As management thinking changes, the business model for tourism services is optimized, and the sustainable value of green tourism is placed at the center, it will be a solid foundation for Thanh Hoa tourism to develop in a more qualitative and sustainable way. Furthermore, the support of all levels and sectors will be a crucial foundation for tourism businesses to have more opportunities and actively participate in the digital and green transformation process in the future.

Text and photos: Le Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/chuyen-doi-so-chuyen-doi-xanh-nbsp-trong-doanh-nghiep-du-lich-270885.htm