Vietnam tourism industry accelerates development of 'green destinations'

(PLVN) - The rapid development of tourism in some localities has been causing serious environmental consequences such as pollution, biodiversity loss, and depletion of natural resources. In this situation, developing green tourism and building "green destinations" - environmentally friendly tourist destinations that preserve nature and culture, while creating sustainable livelihoods for local communities, has become more urgent than ever.

Tourists need safe and friendly destinations

“Developing green destinations - Elevating Vietnam Tourism ” is the theme of “Vietnam International Tourism Fair - VITM Hanoi 2025” to focus on developing Vietnam tourism destinations to achieve the title of “Green Tourism”, contributing to enhancing the brand of Vietnam Tourism in terms of ensuring the environment, security, safety and attractiveness for tourists.

Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Head of the Organizing Committee of VITM Hanoi 2025, Mr. Vu The Binh said that truly safe experiences and the sustainability of the destination are the top factors that tourists care about. Because they want to enjoy, explore , and fully enjoy every moment, many people are willing to spend more, as long as the service quality is good. Therefore, high-end resorts, tourism associated with exploration and research are increasingly developing.

At the Forum "Developing Green Destinations - Enhancing Vietnam Tourism" held on April 11, 2025 in Hanoi, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Loi - Editor-in-Chief of Economic and Urban Newspaper suggested that in the context of globalization and international integration, developing green tourism and sustainable tourism is no longer a choice but has become an inevitable requirement. Vietnam, as a member state of the United Nations, has committed to implementing 17 Sustainable Development Goals, including goals directly related to environmental protection, climate change response and sustainable tourism development.

At the COP26 Conference in 2021, Vietnam also committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. These strong commitments require green transformation in all sectors, including the tourism industry. Developing “green destinations” – that is, building environmentally friendly tourism areas, conserving natural resources, respecting local cultures and bringing sustainable economic benefits to the community – has become an inevitable direction to ensure that Vietnam’s tourism industry can both develop sustainably and effectively adapt to global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss and energy crisis.

“Green destination” does not only stop at protecting the natural environment, but also includes creating sustainable cultural and social values. An ideal “green destination” must meet criteria such as: efficient use of resources, reasonable waste management, use of renewable energy, conservation of biodiversity, maintenance of indigenous cultural values, ensuring the rights of local communities and bringing positive experiences to visitors.

Tourism needs to protect nature

Mr. Patrick Haverman, Deputy Representative of UNDP Vietnam, shared that tourism plays a strong role in promoting the achievement of the “Sustainable Development Goals”. UNDP has been working closely with partners such as the Vietnam Tourism Association and thousands of travel businesses to pioneer the creation of “green destinations” with the project “Reducing plastic waste in tourism in Vietnam”. Impressive results from pilot programs in Ninh Binh and Quang Nam, showing a reduction in single-use plastic use of about 40-55%, have demonstrated the real impact of these efforts on the ground.

In addition, UNDP encourages tourists to prioritize eco-friendly travel options that not only enhance their experiences but also directly contribute to cleaner air and move towards Viet Nam’s net zero emissions targets. The pilot project in Phu Yen province and Hue city, with the recent launch of “Green Check-in and Share” stations in Tuy Hoa and Hon Yen, is a concrete step towards realizing this orientation.

At the seminar, experts commented that green tourism is a challenge, but also an opportunity for the Vietnamese tourism industry to transform.

Mr. Phung Quang Thang - Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association commented that the tourism industry needs to focus on protecting nature and local culture; strongly developing eco-tourism and community tourism models; minimizing plastic waste, encouraging the use of environmentally friendly products;...

Green transformation in tourism not only serves as one of the key drivers of economic growth but also contributes to protecting Vietnam's precious natural resources for future generations.

Thuy Duong

Source: https://baophapluat.vn/nganh-du-lich-viet-tang-toc-phat-trien-diem-den-xanh-post545169.html