This is also one of the issues raised and discussed enthusiastically at the Workshop "Green tourism destination management model - Stakeholder approach" organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province and the Swiss Tourism Project for Sustainable Development in Vietnam (ST4SD) recently in Hoi An City (Quang Nam).
At the workshop, many opinions came from delegates interested in the orientation of sustainable green tourism development after the merger of Quang Nam and Da Nang . The advantages and difficulties in managing and operating destinations as well as opportunities to develop green tourism after the new locality after the merger.
Tourists experience tourism in Quang Nam countryside
Quang Nam is the leading locality in developing and promulgating the Green Tourism Criteria, while Da Nang has strengths in infrastructure and urban tourism. However, to develop sustainable green tourism, new solutions and approaches are needed, especially in the period after the merger with Da Nang.
Mr. Van Ba Son - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam also frankly acknowledged that the journey of developing green tourism in Quang Nam province still has many difficulties and challenges. The set of green tourism criteria of Quang Nam province has not yet been recognized at the national level.
" Tourism is a comprehensive, multi-sector economic sector. For this sector to develop in a green and sustainable direction is a difficult task, requiring attention and synchronous direction from the central to local levels - especially in the context of arranging and merging administrative units according to the general policy of the Party and State.
“However, this is a process that needs to be done continuously, consistently and throughout the entire development process of the tourism industry – it cannot stop at a specific stage,” said Mr. Van Ba Son.
Experience the green tourism journey connecting 3 localities of Quang Nam: Hoi An - Dien Ban - My Son
The Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam also proposed upgrading the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria, referring to global standards such as Green Key (an international program on managing and reducing energy and resource consumption in hotels and accommodation establishments); GSTC (Global Sustainable Tourism Council).
The proposed roadmap follows the following specific steps: Step 1, compare Quang Nam's existing criteria with GSTC. Add missing elements, such as waste management according to EU standards; use at least 30% renewable energy at accommodation facilities; invite the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) or GSTC to assess feasibility.
Step 2: Pilot in Da Nang (2026-2027), trial application for 10 coastal hotels in Da Nang; Grant "Green Destination Da Nang" certification with its own logo.
Step 3 will move towards national replication (2028–2030), proposing the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to recognize this set of criteria as a national standard. Support businesses in other localities.
Emphasize and analyze the role of public-private partnership (PPP) in developing green tourism. There, the State plays a role in developing preferential policies; Tax exemptions and reductions for businesses achieving green certification; Support for infrastructure investment capital, etc.
The role of businesses such as: Investing in technology to build zero-waste resorts; Forming a green supply chain, combining with local farmers to provide organic food for restaurants.
The role of the community and international organizations is reflected in cooperation projects such as: Supporting sea turtle conservation in Cu Lao Cham; Training green homestay for local people; Cooperation in green transportation and hotels; Attracting FDI in renewable energy, tourism technology, etc.
“Combining a systematic roadmap, international standards, with the participation of the whole community, green tourism in (new) Da Nang will not only be sustainable but also create a global competitive advantage,” Mr. Van Ba Son hopes.
Visit Bay Mau Coconut Forest - Hoi An
Sharing about this issue, Mr. Olivier Messmer, chief expert of the ST4SD Project, said that although the merger is challenging, it is also a great opportunity for Quang Nam and Da Nang to develop tourism in the two localities.
This vision is seen from angles such as having more different, unique destinations, without any destination conflicts.
Tourism is not an isolated activity, each locality has its own strengths, each destination has its own competitive strengths, offering different experiences. It is possible to exploit and develop individual strengths to have different, attractive, unique experiences and be compatible, complementing each other to position the brand for the locality.
The combination of modern and traditional elements will bring more unique experiences to tourists. However, he also noted the need to preserve the unique characteristics of each locality, especially traditional, cultural and historical values.
“It is important that each destination remains intact, preserves the cultural values, identity, and natural resources that have created the brand, and has a local strategy to create competitive advantages for each destination,” said Olivier Messmer.
Foreign tourists visit Tra Que vegetable garden, a green tourist destination in Hoi An
From an international perspective, Mr. Olivier Messmer emphasized the importance of destination-specific certification programs, centralized governance mechanisms that strongly empower localities, highly valuing the role of effective public-private partnerships and initiatives to protect unique natural values.
At the same time, it affirmed that, together with the Swiss government, the ST4SD project will continue to support Quang Nam to go beyond green tourism towards sustainable tourism development through the application of international standards and certifications, and fully support Quang Nam to become a leading sustainable tourism destination.
According to Culture newspaper
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-xanh-sau-sap-nhap-quang-nam-va-da-nang-20250610144226808.htm
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