Green transformation for sustainable tourism development in Vietnam.

On the morning of April 12th, the "Vietnam Tourism Forum - Green Transformation for Sustainable Development" was held. The event was part of the Vietnam International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2024. The forum brought together leading experts in the fields of tourism and environment, creating a high-quality space for discussion and proposing specific solutions to promote green transformation in Vietnam's tourism industry.

The forum's view.

Responding to climate change and protecting the environment is an urgent need for the whole world . The Vietnamese government has demonstrated its determination to join hands with the world to address the climate crisis and reduce emissions by declaring that Vietnam will achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

Vietnam possesses rich and diverse natural and cultural tourism resources. This provides favorable conditions for the development of green tourism.

Tourism is a comprehensive economic sector with interdisciplinary, interregional, and highly socialized characteristics. Any changes in society or nature impact tourism. In Vietnam, the negative impacts of climate change and environmental degradation have severely affected tourism. Therefore, Vietnamese tourism has been gradually implementing green tourism, a type of tourism based on the rational exploitation and use of natural resources, aiming to minimize negative impacts on the human living environment.

At the forum, the Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Mr. Vu The Binh, stated that in Decision 82/QD-TTg, which promulgates the National Action Plan on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, the Prime Minister directed the prioritization of tourism development towards green growth and the development of green tourism products. Specifically, the Government has directed the tourism sector to develop and implement a Green Tourism Action Program for the period 2023-2025.

"The Vietnam Tourism Association is proactively mobilizing tourism businesses nationwide to implement green transformation to jointly protect the environment and ensure that Vietnam's tourism develops into a green economic sector based on the development of green tourism products, green services, and most importantly, to raise awareness and actions of the Vietnamese tourism business system towards green transformation so that Vietnam's tourism develops sustainably and effectively," Mr. Binh emphasized.

Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, highly appreciated the efforts of units operating in the tourism sector in promoting green transformation.

Speaking at the Forum, Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, expressed his hope that the positive signs of green tourism will continue to be further promoted, becoming a movement and a milestone achievement for the tourism industry.

“After the Covid-19 period, green tourism, quality tourism, and tourism that focuses on practical values ​​for people, ensuring safety and benefiting human health, are always highly valued. This trend continues to be one of the choices for tourists. Therefore, service providers and managers are all aiming to meet this need. The results of the forum will continue to contribute to the industry's mission, finding practical solutions and solving the problem from the input of businesses, from the mindset of green tourism to satisfy tourists. Green here is not just the green of leaves, not just green in terms of the environment, but green in terms of thinking, habits, lifestyle, behavior, and green culture,” Mr. Siêu emphasized.

Tourism has become a vital economic sector in Vietnam, projected to contribute over 6.4% to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) this year. Vietnam's success is largely due to its diverse and rich natural beauty and cultural heritage.

However, in the face of current challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change, a shift towards sustainable development is inevitable. A green transformation in tourism not only benefits the environment and promotes biodiversity conservation but also improves the lives of tourism-dependent communities and boosts economic growth.

Participating in the forum, Mr. Patrick Haverman - Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam, stated that the green transformation process in tourism in Vietnam needs to focus on several issues such as green planning; effective destination management; plastic-free and low-carbon tourism; and sustainable tourism based on nature.

According to Patrick Haverman, Vietnam still has much work to do to enhance the effectiveness of tourism destination management. Destination management is a process that requires the involvement and leadership of local authorities at all levels, in close coordination with the private sector and local communities, so that the voices and perspectives of these important stakeholders are heard and reflected in the tourism management solutions of each locality.

The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam specifically emphasized the importance of focusing on plastic-free and low-carbon tourism. Several provinces and cities in Vietnam have begun the process of "greening" tourism and reducing plastic waste, such as Hoi An, Quang Nam, and Co To island district, Quang Ninh. Green transportation also has great potential to promote green tourism. Encouraging green transportation in tourism will provide more flexible and environmentally friendly transportation options for tourists visiting destinations.

Source: https://daidoanket.vn/chuyen-doi-xanh-de-du-lich-viet-nam-phat-trien-ben-vung-10277400.html