Journey for a smoke-free tourism industry

More than 160 leaders, experts and activists from the Asia- Pacific region gathered in Hue City to attend the 9th Smoke-Free Conference, a two-day event to promote smoke-free tourism policies, protect public health, preserve cultural values and move towards sustainable economic development.

Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, spoke at the Conference.

The conference was organized by the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) in collaboration with the Vietnam Tobacco Control Fund (VNTCF) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Health .

With the theme “Smoke-Free Destinations: Transforming Tourism in the Asia- Pacific Region”, the event is a forum for countries in the region to share experiences, achievements and challenges in building healthy, clean and friendly tourism destinations.

Speaking at the conference, Ms. Phan Thi Hai, Deputy Director of the Tobacco Harm Prevention Fund, emphasized that tourism is not only about economic development but also about protecting people and preserving cultural heritage. When tourist destinations become smoke-free areas, we not only protect relics but also contribute to saving many lives.

Within the framework of the Conference, delegates presented typical models from many localities that have successfully applied smoke-free policies, including building legal corridors, promoting communication campaigns, as well as mobilizing the participation of local communities in monitoring and enforcement.

In particular, the field trip to Hue Imperial City - a UNESCO-recognized World Cultural Heritage not only introduces the unique cultural values of Vietnam but also vividly demonstrates the effectiveness of maintaining a smoke-free tourism space, contributing to protecting both the environment and the visitor experience.

Ms. Domilyn Villarreiz, Smoke-Free Program Manager of SEATCA, affirmed that no tourist wants to inhale toxic smoke when visiting a tourist destination. Building smoke-free public spaces is not only an action for public health, but also a strategy for developing smart and sustainable tourism.

In addition to solutions to promote policy implementation, the Conference also warned about the tricks of concept swapping from the tobacco industry.

Accordingly, some tobacco companies are currently exploiting the term “smoke-free” to promote products such as e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products, which still contain nicotine and pose a high risk of addiction, especially for young people.

Mr. Alan Zaldivar, Iloilo City Council Representative, Philippines expressed concern that smoke-free must be a clear concept, clean air, healthy people, safe community. We need to strongly oppose the attempts to swap concepts, to continue promoting toxic products.

The conference ended with a strong commitment from delegates in the region to continue promoting the development and expansion of smoke-free tourism destinations, making Asia-Pacific, especially ASEAN countries, a global model for sustainable tourism development, associated with protecting public health.

“This is not just a campaign, but a movement for life, for a clean environment for today and future generations,” Ms. Villarreiz added, emphasizing that we need to act together and speak out now.

The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) is a multi-sectoral, non-governmental organization that is at the forefront of supporting ASEAN countries to effectively implement the World Health Organization Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC).

SEATCA is currently a recognized organization of ASEAN and an official observer at the Conference of the Parties to the FCTC. SEATCA has been awarded the World Health Organization World No Tobacco Day Award (2004) and the WHO Director-General’s Special Recognition Award (2014).

Source: https://baodautu.vn/hanh-trinh-vi-mot-nganh-du-lich-khong-khoi-thuoc-d373176.html