Tourism cannot be green when there is plastic waste

Speaking at the forum "Developing green destinations - Enhancing Vietnam tourism " organized by the Vietnam Tourism Association on April 11 in Hanoi, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that in the context of the world facing unprecedented challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental pollution and resource depletion, the tourism industry is also forced to transform.

Green transformation in tourism is no longer an option, but a requirement

"Green transformation in tourism is no longer an option, but a mandatory requirement if we want to develop sustainably, responsibly and have a future," Mr. Binh emphasized.

Mr. Patrick Harvemann, Deputy Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Vietnam, acknowledged that tourism has become an important economic sector of Vietnam with an impressive revenue of VND840,000 billion in 2024. This dynamism shows the great potential of the industry and UNDP Vietnam believes that tourism plays a strong role in promoting the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

The Deputy Resident Representative of UNDP in Vietnam also said that the path to raising the level of Vietnam's tourism through developing green destinations is not only an aspiration but also an inevitable requirement and a strategic opportunity.

Tourism has become an important economic sector of Vietnam.

LuxGroup Chairman Pham Ha acknowledged that in the context of the world facing serious challenges such as climate change, natural resource depletion and increasingly obvious consequences from mass tourism, the concept of "green tourism" is not simply a timely choice, but has become a mandatory requirement.

However, according to the Chairman of LuxGroup, the major difficulty on the path to "green transformation" is the economic problem of investing in energy-saving equipment, waste treatment, environmentally friendly materials... which requires high costs and long payback periods. In addition, uneven awareness in the supply chain and market is also a major obstacle.

Convincing partners, especially in remote areas, to commit to green standards remains a difficult problem that needs to be solved through dialogue, training and technical support. While green tourism products are difficult to compete with, high prices make it difficult for sustainable tourism products to reach the mass market, requiring a clear value proposition and communication strategy.

Green transition is a must

General Secretary of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu Quoc Tri affirmed that it is impossible to say green without reducing plastic waste. Reducing plastic waste must be a prerequisite for Vietnam's tourism to transform green.

Reducing plastic waste must be a prerequisite for Vietnam's tourism to go green.

Therefore, it is necessary to minimize environmental impacts, actively contribute to biodiversity protection, use renewable energy, promote the value of natural and cultural heritages, and develop environmentally friendly products.

Professor Nguyen Van Dinh, Director of the Institute of Tourism Economics, expressed his view that reducing carbon emissions requires the tourism industry to use environmentally friendly means of transport (electric vehicles, bicycles, public transport). Encourage tourism close to nature. However, to transform green in tourism requires developing community tourism and circular economy, including supporting traditional craft villages, creating jobs for local people, prioritizing products, organic foods and local crafts. At the same time, raising awareness and responsibility for tourism in the directionof educating tourists about sustainable tourism.

Deputy Head of UNDP Vietnam Patrick Haverman said that the green transformation process in tourism in Vietnam needs to focus on four issues: Green planning; effective destination management; plastic waste-free and low-carbon tourism; and nature-based sustainable tourism.

“Our vision for green destinations is not limited to community conservation efforts in marine areas and protected areas. We also recognise the important role of green transport. Encouraging visitors to prioritise eco-friendly travel options not only deepens their experience but also directly contributes to cleaner air and towards Vietnam’s ambitious net zero emissions targets,” Mr. Patrick Haverman emphasized.

Mr. Patrick Haverman pledged that UNDP is ready to support the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Vietnam Tourism Association and other stakeholders in the process of transforming Vietnam into a responsible and competitive tourism destination.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/du-lich-khong-the-xanh-khi-con-rac-thai-nhua-196250411160004824.htm