Developing sustainable tourism to create the future

Recently, the Government has issued Resolution No. 82/NQ-CP on key tasks and solutions to accelerate recovery and accelerate effective and sustainable tourism development. The Government has directed the tourism industry to develop and implement a Green Tourism Action Program for the period 2023-2025. The Prime Minister has issued Directive 08/CT-TTg on comprehensive, rapid and sustainable tourism development in the coming time. Thereby, demonstrating the great concern of the Government and the Prime Minister for sustainable tourism development.

Green transformation is the way to go

According to Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu, after the Covid-19 pandemic, green tourism, quality tourism and tourism that focuses on practical values ​​for people, ensuring safety and benefits for human health, are always highly valued. This trend continues to be one of the choices of tourists. Therefore, service providers and managers are all aiming to meet this need.

Mr. Ha Van Sieu said that we are currently facing challenges such as biodiversity loss and climate change. The transition to sustainable development is inevitable. Green transformation in tourism not only benefits the environment and helps promote biodiversity conservation but also improves the lives of tourism-dependent communities and promotes economic growth.

Green transformation in tourism not only benefits the environment and helps promote biodiversity conservation but also improves the lives of tourism-dependent communities and drives economic growth - Photo: VNA

Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh said that tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, with high inter-sectoral, inter-regional and socialization characteristics. All changes in society and nature affect tourism. In Vietnam, the negative impacts of climate change and environmental degradation have severely affected tourism.

Therefore, Vietnam Tourism has gradually implemented green tourism, a type of tourism based on the exploitation and rational use of natural resources, to limit negative impacts on human living environment.

"Implementing the direction of the Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Tourism Association has proactively mobilized tourism businesses nationwide to implement green transformation to join hands in protecting the environment, ensuring the development of Vietnam's tourism into a green economic sector on the basis of developing green tourism products, green services and most importantly, raising awareness and action of the system of Vietnamese tourism businesses towards green transformation for sustainable and effective development of Vietnam's tourism", said Mr. Vu The Binh.

The Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association emphasized that "green transformation is mandatory", because the State will certainly have very strict regulations on environmental protection. Therefore, those working in tourism will be disadvantaged if they do not take the lead.

Emphasizing that green transformation is a difficult process with many challenges, according to Mr. Vu The Binh, if businesses are truly determined, love tourism and see the future, they will definitely succeed.

Chairman of Vietnam Tourism Association Vu The Binh.

According to Dr. Vo Tri Thanh, Director of the Institute for Brand and Competitiveness Strategy Research, currently, facing unpredictable changes in climate and epidemics, "tourists need green, so tourism must be green". Moreover, green transformation and green tourism are stories of national competition, linked to ecosystems.

According to Mr. Vo Tri Thanh, tourists themselves have also changed, from lifestyle, consumption, and enjoyment to being different from before.

Citing Expedia Group's 2022 survey, Mr. Vo Tri Thanh said that 90% of tourists, especially the younger generation, Gen Z, are not only interested in personal experiences, exploration, and enjoyment, not only demanding green, but they also want to contribute to sustainable development, environmental protection, and the community,... right during their travel.

"They choose sustainable travel, especially trips that reduce their environmental footprint, help support local economic and cultural development, and have the opportunity to explore new destinations," said Dr. Vo Tri Thanh.

However, Mr. Vo Tri Thanh said that in the process of green tourism transition, there are also many challenges. Vietnam needs international support in this field.

Many challenges

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research (Vietnam National Administration of Tourism) said that there are 6 major challenges in developing tourism towards green growth that world tourism is facing: Inadequate awareness of green growth; Lack of specific mechanisms and guidelines on developing tourism towards green growth; Financial and investment issues; Energy and resource consumption; High emissions from vehicles and destinations; and Limited effectiveness in applying policy mechanisms.

Along with the common challenges of the world, in Vietnam today, awareness of green growth, circular economy and tourism development towards green growth is still inadequate. The exploitation and use of spontaneous tourism resources in some localities has caused negative impacts on resources and the environment, in many places resources have been violated.

In addition, tourism businesses still mainly use energy and fossil fuels, not alternative energy or clean fuels. Many tourism establishments, especially accommodation and food service establishments, have not taken active measures to treat waste, wastewater, recycle and reuse; waste is still directly discharged into the natural environment.

In addition, the awareness of a number of tourists, tourism businesses and communities in tourist areas and destinations is not high, there is still littering, there is no awareness of maintaining public hygiene, protecting the environment and landscape. Climate change and other global issues such as natural disasters and epidemics also have a negative impact on tourism development towards green growth.

Tourists join in picking up trash at Phan Thiet beach. Photo: Vietluxtour

Offering some solutions for developing tourism towards green growth in Vietnam, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan said that first of all, it is necessary to perfect institutions, policies, and regulations for managing tourism development towards green and sustainable growth.

Next is to develop tourism on the basis of respecting, preserving and protecting resources, ensuring the pristine and original values ​​of natural landscapes and national cultural heritage. Encourage investors and businesses to invest in tourism responsibly in the direction of green and sustainable investment, creating green tourism products and services to promote the trend of green tourism consumption.

At the same time, promote digital transformation, apply advanced technology, green and clean technology to tourism business. Convert to using renewable energy, clean fuel, recycled materials, and save energy.

Develop diverse types of tourism in the direction of green growth such as eco-tourism, agricultural eco-tourism, community tourism, discovery and experience of natural and cultural heritage values, and resort and health care.

Localities and businesses carry out "greening" and "sustainability" of tourism activities, are environmentally friendly, and create a "green - luxurious - clean - beautiful" space and environment at the destination.

>>> To be continued

Source: https://toquoc.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-ben-vung-de-kien-tao-tuong-lai-bai-1-huong-di-tat-yeu-20240415065623386.htm