Deputy Director of Thanh Hoa Department of Natural Resources and Environment
PV: In recent years, Thanh Hoa tourism has attracted a large number of tourists. How does this affect the environment of tourist areas, sir?
Mr. Nguyen Khanh Toan: Since 2020, Thanh Hoa has always been a priority destination for tourists. It is estimated that from 2021 to the end of 2023, Thanh Hoa will welcome over 26.4 million visitors; total tourism revenue will reach over 49,200 billion VND. In the first 10 months of 2023 alone, Thanh Hoa welcomed 11,891,000 visitors, reaching 99.2% of the 2023 plan (of which 500,800 were international visitors); total tourism revenue will reach 23,223 billion VND, reaching 96% of the 2023 plan (of which total revenue from international visitors will reach 229,350,000 USD).
It can be said that in recent years, the tourism industry of Thanh Hoa province has developed rapidly. The trend will continue to increase in the coming time when the scale of facilities, tourism services, infrastructure, accommodation, transportation, entertainment, etc. are invested and expanded. However, besides the positive contributions, the development of tourism activities, especially sea tourism, also has a strong impact on the environment, causing local pollution and the risk of environmental degradation. The increase in the number of tourists has led to the generation of waste, while the amount collected and treated still has certain limitations. In most tourist areas, the solid waste collection rate is currently only about 80 - 90%, and during the peak tourist season, this rate is even lower. The above situation is causing many coastal tourist areas of Thanh Hoa province such as Sam Son city, Hoang Hoa district, Nghi Son town to face the risk of environmental pollution caused by waste, especially plastic waste.
Reporter: How does Thanh Hoa carry out environmental protection work in tourist areas? How does waste classification at source affect green tourism development activities?
Mr. Nguyen Khanh Toan: To ensure environmental hygiene and preserve the landscape in tourist areas, the province has focused on investing in building green - clean - beautiful campuses and roads, building public toilets, and arranging trash bins at locations...
At tourist attractions, specific tasks have been assigned to each officer and employee to promote tourists to practice civilized lifestyles, protect the environment, dispose of garbage in designated places, limit the use of plastic products, nylon bags, and littering indiscriminately into the environment. Arrange enough trash bins in convenient locations for visitors to dispose of trash, and choose a location for garbage collection that is hygienic and aesthetically pleasing. Require businesses in tourist areas to commit to preserving the landscape and environmental sanitation.
For tourist areas and destinations with tours, eco-tourism, etc., tour guides remind visitors not to litter the natural environment. At the same time, each household living in the area is also educated to raise awareness of environmental protection, classify waste at source, not litter and regularly collect waste to maintain public hygiene, as well as protect their own living environment.
In recent years, policies, plans and orientations for tourism development in Thanh Hoa province have focused on the goal of sustainable tourism development, developing green tourism associated with protecting the natural environment. However, in order for policies and orientations for tourism development to be implemented and promoted effectively in practice, there needs to be determination and consensus from all localities, businesses and the whole society.
Sorting waste at source, encouraging hotels to limit the use of disposable plastic products, and encouraging tourists not to bring plastic bottles, nylon bags, and materials that pose a risk of environmental pollution when traveling... are very important in forming a green tourism trend in Thanh Hoa, bringing benefits to the environment and human health, while developing the tourism industry in a sustainable direction, creating better and deeper experiences for both tourists and destinations.
PV: To develop green tourism, what solutions will Thanh Hoa province orient and implement?
Mr. Nguyen Khanh Toan: In the coming time, for tourism to develop sustainably, creating a green - clean - beautiful, safe and friendly tourism environment for tourists is very important. Thanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee encourages investment in developing eco-tourism and green tourism; orienting tourism development towards sustainability; implementing the Project to build a waste treatment and classification system in tourist areas and spots... Propagating to people and tourists to practice civilized tourism behavior; diversifying experiential products, guiding tourists to participate in environmental and landscape protection activities.
Organize tourism training courses associated with environmental protection propaganda to create changes and raise awareness, sense of compliance with environmental protection laws, social responsibility of people and businesses in preserving and protecting the environment, developing sustainable tourism. Closely coordinate between specialized agencies to detect, prevent and promptly handle acts of environmental pollution in tourism business. Strengthen coordination with all levels, sectors, and organizations to sign cooperation agreements to ensure security, order, and environmental sanitation in tourist areas and spots in the province.
Tourism businesses need to strictly implement regulations on environmental protection. For restaurants and hotels, green technology, environmentally friendly materials, fuel economy, and limiting direct discharge into the environment are required. The construction of accommodation facilities must comply with regulations and not destroy the surrounding landscape...
PV: Thank you very much!
Source: https://baotainguyenmoitruong.vn/thanh-hoa-dau-tu-du-lich-xanh-bao-ve-moi-truong-379863.html
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