Green tourism is a development trend of the world and is also the policy of the Government to develop sustainable and effective tourism. Green tourism is creating a new ecosystem for Vietnamese tourism, aiming to join hands with the community in preserving the landscape, nature, living environment and indigenous cultural customs. Developing green tourism and sustainable tourism is an opportunity for Vietnam to become the first choice destination, an attractive experience destination for international tourists.
Article 1: Developing green tourism
- An inevitable trend
(CPV) - Vietnam is a country with great potential in developing green tourism with rich and diverse resources, many beautiful landscapes and historical sites. Vietnam is one of the 10 countries in the world with the longest coastline compared to the territorial area with 3,260km, and is also a country with 2,360 large and small rivers.
According to the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), Southeast Asia will become the 4th largest international tourist attraction in the world and Vietnam is one of the 10 fastest tourism growing countries in the world.
In line with the global trend, Vietnam's tourism industry identifies green tourism and sustainable tourism on the basis of green tourism as the path of development throughout the next 10 years.
“Tourism is an important economic sector, making an increasing contribution to the economies of many countries. This is the development trend of the future, green, sustainable and environmentally friendly development,” said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the conference to promote attracting international tourists to Vietnam on December 21, 2022.
   
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| Cat cat village in Sapa, the northwestern province of Lao Cai |
According to the International Ecotourism Association (TIES), green tourism is understood as responsible tourism to natural areas, preserving the environment and maintaining local people’s lives. This type of tourism is based on nature and living environment, limiting adverse impacts on the environment such as emissions, smoke emission, destruction of flora and fauna, encouraging the use of renewable energy sources, materials, etc. promoting natural cultural heritages and environmentally friendly products.
So far, Vietnam has remained steadfast with sustainable values in tourism development. Vietnam tourism has created and established in the hearts of international tourists the message "Vietnam - a safe country", the image of "Vietnam is a safe, friendly and attractive destination", an “endless beauty” destination.
In Vietnam, green tourism is one of the important contents in Vietnam's tourism development strategy. Resolution 08-NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo (12th tenure) on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector also affirmed that tourism development becomes a spearhead economic sector, including develop sustainable tourism; preserve and promote the cultural heritages and fine traditional values of the nation; protect the environment and nature; well solve problems of labor, employment and social security; ensure national defense, security, social order and safety.
Vietnam's tourism development strategy to 2020, vision to 2030 also provides the orientation "Developing green tourism, associate tourism activities with preserving and promoting the values of natural resources and protecting the environment".
In recent years, diverse activities towards sustainable green tourism have been held during national-scale tourism events such as the National Tourism Year 2022 "Quang Nam Province - Green tourism destination" in the central Quang Nam province, the National Tourism Year 2023 "Binh Thuan - Green convergence” in the central Binh Thaun province, towards green products, clean energy, creating a friendly and safe environment for health.
According to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung, green tourism is a vital trend for sustainable and effective tourism development. This is also a way to both develop tourism and attract tourists, while preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritages and good traditional values of the nation, towards a green growth, tourism development associated with other economic sectors.
Director of the Institute of Tourism Development Nguyen Anh Tuan said that with mountainous terrain and plateaus, a long coastline, thousands of islands, large and small, Vietnam has many favorable natural conditions for green tourism development, creating unique and different ecotourism products, which have great attraction to international tourists.
Green tourism development can be understood as responsible tourism to nature, conserving the environment, maintaining and preserving the culture and lives of indigenous people, creating jobs, improving livelihoods and bringing happiness for the people. Not only minimizing physical, social, behavioral and psychological impacts, green tourism also builds a culture of respect and protection for the environment, while providing positive experiences for visitors.
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| The Mui Ne national tourist site in Phan Thiet city, the southern central province of Binh Thuan. |
At the seminar "Quang Nam develops green tourism and preserves indigenous values" at the end of March in Quang Nam province, Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute of Tourism Development, said that developing tourism in the direction of green growth is a development method based on respect, conservation and effective promotion of resource values; carry out activities of management, business and consumption of green tourism; consume less energy, develop and use renewable energy; create jobs, improve livelihoods and bring happiness to people, contributing to building a green economy and realizing sustainable development goals.
Ms. Doan Thi Thanh Tra, Marketing and Communication Director of Saigontourist Travel Corporation shared, green tourism core is the product created from elements that adapt in a harmonious and environmentally friendly manner, bringing safe solutions to the natural environment, living environment and health of the resident community and visitors.
Ms. Tra added that all tourism services and products, such as package tours, hotel, restaurant and transportation services, to be recognized as a green tourism product, all basic contents of these criteria must meet standards./.
Article 2: Indigenous culture - The future of green tourism
Article 3: New visa policy expected to boost Vietnam tourism