Zero waste tourism - a new direction for green Cao Bang destination

Cao Bang - a land of beautiful landscapes and rivers at the head of the Fatherland is gradually moving towards sustainable tourism development by implementing the model of "zero waste tourism". This is not only a practical solution to protect the environment but also a new direction to build the image of a green, friendly and attractive destination in the hearts of tourists.

In recent years, Cao Bang tourism has developed strongly, attracting more and more domestic and foreign tourists to visit and experience. Famous attractions such as Ban Gioc waterfall, Nguom Ngao cave, Thang Hen lake or Pac Bo special national relic site are always indispensable stops on the journey to explore the borderland. However, along with that growth comes increasing environmental pressure.

Youth Union members join hands to beautify the landscape at Ban Gioc waterfall

Garbage, especially plastic waste, appears more and more at tourist destinations, significantly affecting the landscape and the quality of tourists' experiences. Faced with this reality, the provincial tourism industry has determined that tourism development cannot be at the expense of the environment. Moving towards a zero-waste tourism model has become an inevitable requirement, contributing to the protection of natural resources, raising community awareness and demonstrating responsibility for the future of this land of great potential.

From that awareness, many tourist areas and spots in the province have implemented specific activities to reduce waste and build a green tourism environment. At Ban Gioc waterfall, Pac Bo National Special Relic Site or Thang Hen Lake, the model of "saying no to plastic waste" has received positive responses from people and businesses. Accommodation facilities and homestays in Trung Khanh, Hoa An... have replaced disposable plastic bottles with glass bottles and shared filtered water bottles. At the same time, visitors are encouraged to bring their own bottles and cloth bags when visiting.

Mr. Nong Quoc Hung, owner of a homestay in Trung Khanh commune, shared: At first, many guests were surprised that there were no plastic water bottles available in the room, but when the green tourism model was explained, most of them supported and felt excited. Many people also shared this image on social networks, contributing to spreading the message of environmental protection.

Not only changing the way of serving, green tourism awareness has also spread strongly through community activities. In many places, youth union members, women's union members and people in tourist areas and spots organize cleaning sessions, collect garbage, plant flowers and trees along tourist routes. Many movements are becoming regular activities, attracting the participation of a large number of union members and local people. These simple activities are gradually forming habits, awareness of environmental protection and contributing to creating a beautiful image of a green - clean - sustainable Cao Bang. Besides the people, businesses and tourism establishments are also accompanying the local government in realizing the goal of "zero waste tourism". Many travel companies when organizing trekking, camping and cave exploration tours have asked tourists to comply with the principle of "taking away what they brought", that is, collecting all garbage after each trip.

Mr. Nguyen Chien Thang, a tourist from Hanoi, shared: When I went camping at Mat Than Mountain, the tour organizers reminded me to keep the public clean and not litter. Not only that, we also went together to pick up the trash that had been there before. I am very happy that the people working in tourism in Cao Bang have started to pay attention to environmental protection.

Many restaurants, eateries, and souvenir stalls have switched to using paper packaging, bamboo straws, bamboo souvenirs, and brocade instead of disposable plastic materials. These small but practical actions have helped to form a responsible tourism lifestyle and enhance the brand value of Cao Bang tourism. This is an important step to develop tourism in harmony between growth and conservation, between economic benefits and responsibility to nature. When the environment is clean and the landscape is preserved, visitors will certainly have a more complete experience and want to come back many times.

Many travel service companies focus on environmental protection.

Developing zero-waste tourism is not only a requirement of the times but also a long-term investment in the local image. When a destination is known as a clean, environmentally responsible land, it is a sustainable competitive advantage. To achieve that, it requires the cooperation of everyone: government, businesses, people and tourists. Every small action such as refusing plastic bags, not littering, using environmentally friendly products all contribute to nurturing a green future for tourism.

In the context of climate change and environmental pollution becoming a global issue, pioneering the zero-waste tourism model is the right and timely direction. When each trip leaves no waste, when each person is proud of a clean land, when tourists leave Cao Bang with the impression of a green destination, that is the greatest success of the province's tourism industry. Zero-waste tourism is not only a trend but also a commitment of responsibility of today's people to the future of this beautiful land, where nature and people blend together in a picture of green, clean and sustainable tourism.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/du-lich-khong-rac-thai-huong-di-moi-cho-diem-den-cao-bang-xanh-20251111144731961.htm