Attracting tourists post-COVID-19 by building a green tourism environment
According to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Vietnam needs to build a green tourism environment for sustainable development and tourist attraction. This is also a great opportuniy for Vietnam to become the top choice destination with fascinating experiences.
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| In Vietnam, many localities across the country are actively developing green tourism. (Source: Vinpearl) |
Green tourism is based on the exploration of nature and culture. It limits the negative impacts on the environment such as smoke emission, waste discharge, destruction of flora and fauna, etc. It overcomes consequences caused by climate change, uses renewable energy and promotes natural cultural heritages and environmentally friendly products.
Vietnam’s tourism development strategy to 2020, with a vision to 2030, dictates that: “Develop green tourism, associate tourism activities with preserving and promoting the values of natural resources and protecting the environment”.
In addition, Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the 12th Politburo also stated that, in order to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector, it is necessary to develop sustainable tourism; preserve and promote the cultural heritages and traditional values of the nation; protect the environment and nature; solve problems of labor, employment and social security; ensure national defense, national security, social order and safety.
Opportunity to become a top destination
At the opening ceremony of Vietnam’s National Tourism Year, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said that the pandemic had made a drastic change to the social constructs and people’s habits, but it also created a new trend in tourism.
Vietnam needs to build a green tourist environment for sustainable development and tourist attraction. This is also a great opportunity for Vietnam to become the top choice destination with fascinating experiences, the PM stressed.
This type of tourism is no stranger to the world. For example, the Maldives, the archipelago, is working to replace fossil electricity supplies with renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions.
Most resorts in the nation use a system to filter seawater into fresh water and a system to collect rain water, in order to meet the demand for fresh water in the tourism industry. Garbage is always sorted everywhere at all times.
Singapore is another prime example of green tourism. This country has increased the planting of trees everywhere, even planting artificial trees.
If investors want to invest in Koh Chang, one of the most beautiful islands in Thailand, they must sign a commitment to preserve nature. In Koh Chang, there are no jet skis or yachts, only canoes and rowboats that take visitors from one island to another.
In Vietnam, many localities are also actively promoting tourism development towards green growth such as: Ha Noi, Lao Cai, Son La, Ninh Binh, Quang Binh, Quang Nam, Da Nang, Binh Thuan, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, Lam Dong, Ba Ria-Vung Tau, City. Ho Chi Minh, Can Tho, Ben Tre, Kien Giang, etc.
Specifically, in Da Nang, according to the Tourism Development Research Institute (under Vietnam National Administration of Tourism), the locality approaches tourism development towards green growth from the perspective of smart city and green urban development.
The city is also on the track of “greenifying” by increasing tree planting, limiting concreting, developing smart buildings, encouraging the use of renewable energy to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, developing new forms of tourism such as eco-tourism, agricultural-rural tourism, community-based tourism, etc.
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| In order to promote tourism development in the direction of green growth, Vietnam needs to implement synchronous solutions. (Source: Travel Magazine) |
Need a synchronous solution
According to Dr. Do Thi Thanh Hoa, Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, in the coming time, ecotourism trends will continue to thrive because of the socio-economic and environmental benefits that they bring. At the same time, these trends will reflect the interests of tourists and the world in sustainable development.
There is an increase in green tours, tours to learn and to protect the natural world and wildlife; trips in combination with conservation and protection of biodiversity and environmental resources in national parks and nature reserves...
However, in order to encourage the development of green tourism associated with resource conservation and environmental friendliness, it is necessary to develop sustainable tourism types such as Ecotourism; tourism associated with conservation of natural resources; young volunteers to support tourists...
At the same time, localities and the tourism industry also need to develop mechanisms to establish and effectively promote environmental funds in tourism activities.
The Institute also said that in order to promote tourism development in the direction of green growth, Vietnam needs to implement synchronous solutions.
In which, the exploitation of natural resources and development of tourism products must comply with the principles of "respecting and protecting natural resources, protecting the environment", "developing environment-friendly tourism"; "Do not trade off resources and the environment with growth and development of tourism at all costs".
For localities, it is necessary to encourage the responsibility of tourism businesses, make sustainable investments, and create green tourism products and services to promote green tourism consumption trends. Besides, enterprises need to apply advanced technology in business activities; use renewable energy, clean fuel, recycled materials, save energy; be responsible for the environment.
For businesses, it is necessary to have a waste and wastewater treatment system, to limit the use of disposable products and products made from non-recyclable materials; be socially responsible, contribute to preserving and promoting the local cultural identity in destinations...
