Therefore, UNESCO consistently provides solutions/tools to guide countries in responding to and addressing these threats.
Recently, this organization issued a global message, "United for Heritage," calling on all social organizations and communities to work together to address these threats and challenges. Tourism is being identified and assessed as one of the top priorities in the conservation of cultural and natural heritage in each country and globally.
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| Illustration photo: X. Hung |
In response to that message, most countries around the world, including Vietnam, have organized numerous forums – from the central to local levels – to identify tourism activities in the context of current globalization.
In this context, the issue of promoting the role of cultural and natural heritage in conjunction with sustainable tourism development is a top priority for all levels and sectors, because today tourism is considered the " economic sector of the future," truly playing a crucial leading role in every economy, bringing enormous income to all localities and the nation.
Prioritizing tourism development is a trend in many countries, and Vietnam has always recognized tourism as an important bridge between civilizations, promoting cultural exchange, and strengthening friendship between nations and peoples. However, at forums discussing sustainable tourism development at the local and national levels, experts, scientists, and managers have voiced warnings, pointing out the negative impacts of tourism on cultural life in general, especially on those that need sustainable preservation, namely existing cultural and natural resources.
The Vietnam Federation of UNESCO Associations assesses that, in addition to the economic benefits brought by tourism, the unplanned development of tourism, disregard for sustainability, and the pursuit of profit growth as a purely economic sector have made this "smokeless economy" a threat to the preservation of cultural values (including tangible and intangible cultural heritage) and natural landscapes and heritage sites.
UNESCO has cited many examples of the negative impacts of tourism on cultural environments and natural landscapes: For instance, in Asia, the indigenous culture of Bali (Indonesia) has almost disappeared due to the uncontrolled and reckless development of tourism, lacking proper control and guidance from the local authorities. Similarly, in Thailand, the government has struggled to choose between preserving cultural heritage and scenic spots and developing the economy of the ancient city of Ayutthaya – one of the world's most famous cultural heritage sites.
In Vietnam, Ha Long Bay has more than once been at risk of exceeding the criteria and standards of the United Nations Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage sites because economic and tourism projects within the heritage site have, at times and in certain places, developed too rapidly, causing serious changes to the landscape and environment.
Therefore, UNESCO has included "Solidarity for Heritage" as one of the main tasks of the World Federation of UNESCO Associations, including Vietnam, to serve as a basis for promoting and calling on organizations and tourism businesses to contribute to the preservation of cultural heritage and natural landscapes at all levels. Through this, it educates the public, especially the younger generation, to raise awareness of protecting the invaluable heritage and natural landscapes of their own country, as well as those of other countries, during their travels and tourism.
UNESCO has also repeatedly sent a strong message to international ministerial conferences on tourism and culture: Today, every tourism organization and every tourist needs to become a guardian of world heritage sites and an ambassador of dialogue between cultures. This is why the preservation of cultural heritage and natural landscapes must be prioritized – only then can a truly harmonious and sustainable tourism industry be built.
Source: https://baodaklak.vn/du-lich/202503/thong-diep-gui-nganh-du-lich-74f14ed/
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