The event brought together over 200 delegates from both domestic and international locations, representing localities from Japan, China, South Korea, and Vietnam, along with international organizations, businesses, and experts in the tourism sector.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the City People's Committee Nguyen Thanh Binh delivered a speech at the meeting.

Pioneering the development of environmentally friendly tourism models.

In his opening remarks at the thematic workshop, the Standing Committee member of the Hue City Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee emphasized: "In the context of increasingly profound impacts of climate change, tourism development models based solely on resource exploitation are gradually revealing their limitations. Developing green and sustainable tourism is not just a trend, but an inevitable path for tourism to continue developing without sacrificing the environment, culture, or community interests."

Throughout the session, the presentations, discussions, and practical models all agreed on one thing: Green tourism is not only an environmental solution, but also a sustainable economic solution that brings long-term benefits to both the destination and the local residents.

According to Ms. Phan Linh Chi, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, the Vietnam tourism development strategy until 2030 has clearly identified the top priority as developing green tourism, based on sustainable growth, responding to climate change, optimizing the use of natural resources, and protecting heritage.

“From the national level, the tourism industry is gradually transforming its development mindset. Instead of focusing on the number of tourists, the focus is now on improving service quality, creating tourism products that reflect cultural identity and are environmentally responsible. The 'Green Lotus' criteria applied to sustainable accommodation establishments, the 'Go Green' tourism campaigns, and programs to reduce plastic waste at destinations are all examples of this commitment,” Ms. Linh Chi said.

Representatives from the National Tourism Administration also affirmed that developing green tourism is not only the responsibility of state management agencies but also requires the synchronized participation of businesses, local communities, educational institutions, professional associations, and especially tourists.

As the only city in Vietnam with a complex of historical sites recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage site, Hue understands the dilemma between preservation and development. In recent years, the city has implemented a series of model green tourism initiatives such as: "Hue - a waste-free destination," developing community tourism in Thuy Bieu and Huong Tra districts, and creating a cultural, culinary, and artistic space at An Nhien Garden…

According to Hue city leaders, developing green tourism is a strategic shift for Hue. Hue does not want to be just a place preserving heritage, but must become a city of innovation and creativity, connecting the past with the future. Green tourism is a way to renew cultural values ​​and move Hue forward without losing its identity.

The discussions focused on the need to develop green tourism in the current context.

Not only the government, but also local businesses in Hue have proactively transformed themselves. A representative from Vietnam Travel shared: “We invest in small tours, walking tours, cycling tours, exploring traditional craft villages, vegetarian cuisine, meditation… combined with environmental education. Tourists get to experience – and also contribute to – preserving the heritage. This is a trend that is increasingly attractive, especially to international tourists.”

The key to sustainable development.

At the meeting, many green tourism development models from East Asian countries were presented, offering diverse perspectives and practical lessons. The delegation from Tottori Prefecture (Japan) introduced the "wellness tourism" model – health and wellness tourism linked to mineral spring resources, therapeutic treatments, and relaxing activities in a natural environment. This is not only a high-end service but also contributes to landscape preservation and improves the quality of life for local residents.

Green tourism models are being strongly implemented in Hue.

Representatives from Yamanashi Prefecture (Japan) emphasized solutions to control overtourism at popular destinations such as Mount Fuji. Planning designated stops, limiting visitor numbers during certain times, and combining this with community and tourist education have helped the prefecture protect its fragile ecosystem while maintaining stable tourism revenue.

Meanwhile, the "resident-friendly museum tourism" model, introduced by Shaanxi Province (China), is seen as a way to create shared spaces between tourists and local communities. Museums are not just exhibition spaces, but also "cultural living rooms" for urban residents, where everyone participates in preserving memories and creating new experiences.

From the Vietnamese side, representatives from Phu Tho province emphasized the potential for green tourism linked to intangible cultural heritage such as Xoan singing and the Hung King worshiping tradition, combined with eco-tourism, agricultural tourism, and health care in Thanh Thuy. The province proposed the establishment of an East Asian Green Tourism Alliance and the organization of a product linkage chain such as the "Returning to the Roots of East Asia" journey.

From an international perspective, organizations such as the Asia Pacific Tourism Organization (APTA) and the East Asia Cooperation Fund highly appreciate Hue City's efforts in organizing a thematic session that is both strategic and practical. Hue is becoming a model of cultural tourism linked to sustainable development. This is an approach that needs to be replicated throughout the East Asian region.

In his closing remarks at the meeting, the Standing Vice Chairman of the Hue City People's Committee, Nguyen Thanh Binh, affirmed a very clear message: Developing green and sustainable tourism is not only an urgent requirement to protect the environment, biodiversity, and local cultural values, but also an opportunity for localities and countries in the East Asian region to cooperate, share experiences, innovate, and develop sustainably.

Le Tho

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/du-lich/tu-hue-lan-toa-tam-nhin-moi-154400.html