Community involvement plays a crucial role in environmental protection - photo: Trang An Landscape Complex Management Board

Inevitable trend

Responding to climate change and environmental protection has become an urgent need worldwide. The Vietnamese Government has shown its determination to join the global effort to address the climate crisis and reduce emissions by announcing that Vietnam will achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The Government has issued numerous environmental policies and tasked various ministries and sectors with specific activities in line with their responsibilities. Adapting to climate change is both a responsibility and an opportunity for Vietnam to undergo green transition to improve the competitiveness of the national economy.

Tourism has become an important economic sector in Vietnam and is expected to contribute 6.4 percent plus to the country’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024. Vietnam’s tourism success is largely attributed to its picturesque landscapes and diverse, rich cultural heritage sites. However, facing challenges, such as biodiversity loss and climate change, the sector has acknowledged that shifting to sustainable development is crucial. Greening tourism not only benefits the environment and promotes biodiversity conservation, but also improves the livelihoods of communities dependent on tourism and boosts economic growth.

Vietnam has identified green tourism development as the way to turn tourism into a leading economic sector and promote sustainable development. The Prime Minister’s Decision 882/QD-TTg on the 2021-2030 National Action Plan for Green Growth prioritizes green tourism and green tourist offering development. Through its Resolution 82/NQ-CP, the Government has instructed the tourism sector to build and realize a Green Tourism Action Program for the 2023-2025 period.

Green tourism, a path toward sustainable development - photo: Nam Nguyen

Green tourist offering development

Green tourism is based on the responsible and efficient use of natural and other resources, aiming to develop green tourism products and services. It is closely linked to the conservation and promotion of natural resources and cultural heritage values, protecting the environment, conserving biodiversity, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change.

The following are three main factors crucial for green tourism development:

Green tourism management includes green tourism and tourist offering development frameworks, policies, strategies and plans.

Green tourism services include travel businesses that utilize resources efficiently to create green tourism products and services.

Green tourism consumption means encouraging tourists to choose green tourism products and eco-friendly destinations, and take responsibility for protecting resources and the environment during their tours.

In recent years, Vietnam has gradually developed green tourism. Several destinations have been promoting green tourism development. For example, the ancient town of Hoi An in Quang Nam Province officially launched its plastic-free hotel model, and the island district of Co To in Quang Ninh Province has piloted a regulation that prohibits tourists from using plastic bottles, plastic bags, or other materials that could pollute the environment. The theme of green tourism was also chosen for national tourism events, such as the 2022 National Tourism Year “Quang Nam - Green Tourism Destination.”

However, green tourism development presents challenges for localities. Vu Van Tuyen, Vice President of the Vietnam Community-based Tourism Association, said it is necessary to build criteria for travel businesses.

Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute suggested accommodations should be built with renewable energy sources and effective waste management processes. There should be communications campaigns about the benefits of green tourism for both the community and tourists. Moreover, opportunities for tourists to experience local culture and participate in heritage conservation activities should be created, he added./.