Green transformation: No longer a story of trade-offs in tourism

The biggest challenge of green transformation in tourism in Vietnam is changing awareness and competition. It is the demand of the market itself, of people with new lifestyles and new ways of consumption.

Vietnamese tourism needs to be more creative, daring, and "dare to play" to truly transform strongly on the green journey. (Illustration photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)

To go the long way and sustainably, Vietnamese tourism needs to be “green” from thinking to action. Because according to the Director of the Institute for Brand Strategy and Competition Research (former Deputy Director of the Central Institute for Economic Management Research), Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, many studies have shown that businesses with green and social responsibilities will have better business performance and brand image.

It's no longer a matter of trade-offs.

- Transfer Green change is the story of many industries and fields in the Vietnamese economy in recent times, but in your opinion, what is the biggest challenge for tourism?

Dr. Vo Tri Thanh: In my opinion, there are two biggest challenges in tourism. The first is to change awareness to transform it into behavior of all stakeholders in the tourism ecosystem. Because tourism is a comprehensive economic sector and directly serves people, so the transformation from awareness to behavior to products, then the movement of all sectors, fields and stakeholders, such as: Businesses, tourists, people, especially people at destinations, communities...

The second challenge, I think, starts with the story of competition. Green is no longer just a commitment, a strategy, a national action, but more importantly, it is a demand of the market itself, of people with new lifestyles, new ways of consumption. If we do not catch up soon, the competitiveness of Vietnamese tourism with tourism from other countries will have a larger gap, especially with countries with attractive tourism in the region.

Dr. Nguyen Tri Thanh. (Photo: Mai Mai/Vietnam+)

- Progress Green transition will require ask very expensive and often green If the price of products and tour routes increases, the price of products and tours will also increase . Does this make it difficult for the business no sir

Dr. Vo Tri Thanh: Like many other fields, green transformation faces many challenges. This is a process that requires not only changes in perception, but also policies, movements from the micro level of each business, each person, each citizen. It requires money, technology, skills and all related policies, efforts as well as resources that can be mobilized.

However, I think that in tourism, this process can be both challenging and advantageous. Because this is a direct interaction with people, each small behavior, each small change can be inexpensive, but still completely change the way of doing business, completely change the perception and acceptance of customers. Thereby contributing to the competitiveness of the business, and behind that is the story of sustainable development.

I will just give a small example of waste treatment. If we are conscious, this is not too costly, but it creates a huge image and meaning of contribution. That contribution, together with the business process, creates resources and these resources contribute to green transformation. In other words, green transformation and business efficiency have changed, it is no longer a story of trade-offs, but now increasingly becomes one.

The greener the business, the better the business performance and brand image. And many studies have shown that, at least in the medium and long term, businesses with green responsibility and good social responsibility have better business performance and better brand image. And behind that is the story of people, gender issues, and better human resource development.

Green transformation is now a requirement of the market itself, of people with new lifestyles and new ways of consumption. (Illustration photo: Contributor/Vietnam+)

Need to be more creative, dare to do, "dare to play"

- Yes sir, we do. We talk a lot about green transition. , about net zero, but what is green and do we really have national standards for green?

Dr. Vo Tri Thanh: I think the overall green transition to achieve the net zero target by 2050 is already there and has begun to spread across sectors in planning. But from a policy perspective, to bring those commitments and aspirations to life is a long story ahead.

For example, circular economy is also related to tourism. We have a project, but it is difficult to turn the project into an action program. From the project to a pilot program with specific criteria and support and incentives is still in the drafting process and cannot be born yet.

Or when we talk about green finance, it must be associated with green criteria. For example, we have green credit and green bonds, but in fact, most of them still depend on renewable energy. As for financial institutions or tourism businesses shifting to green to attract better resources, more convenient and if possible more preferential, these are still open questions.

- With What do you suggest about that question?

Dr. Vo Tri Thanh: Actually, we are doing it, but perhaps the speed must be faster, we must be more creative, we must dare to do more and "dare to play" more in today's life.

The greener the business, the better the brand image of the enterprise and destination. (Illustration: Contributor/Vietnam+)

In today's world , there are many things that we don't need to wait until we understand 100%, know 100% before doing. The way of thinking about management is very different now. If in the past, "upper and lower" had to understand synchronously and completely before doing, now we need to be quick, flexible, take into account all factors that affect the interests of the parties involved and if necessary, we can do a pilot, learn and do it again.

- Thank you for sharing./.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/chuyen-doi-xanh-khong-con-la-cau-chuyen-danh-doi-duoc-mat-trong-du-lich-5014645.html