Hanoi (VNA) – Not only digital transformation, Vietnam's tourism sector is striving to speed up green transformation with the ultimate goal of sustainable development, involving State agencies, businesses, and localities.
According to Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Director of the Tourism Development Research Institute under the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), tourism is an economic sector so naturally, tourism should take the lead in implementing green transformation following the national strategy for green growth project approved by the Prime Minister.
In other words, green transformation is the responsibility of the tourism industry because it utilises resources. Resource exploitation must follow the direction of green growth to fulfilling Vietnam's commitment to international sustainable development programmes, he added.
Green tourism must ensure respect towards natural resources, environmental protection, and the application of measures such as using clean and renewable energy, and resource-saving solutions, especially in wastewater treatment and management systems to ensure no discharge into the environment, he said.
Businesses need to apply technological solutions in producing environmentally friendly products and services that meet the demand of tourists, he went on.
The expert noted that many businesses still have insufficient and incorrect understanding of these principles, so the implementation of green tourism within the business community remains limited.
Attracting international resources
Tuan underlined the necessity to mobilise international resources for this scheme as green growth implementation can be costly, saying that the State needs to put in place resources to support and prioritise green transformation in tourism.
Not only state agencies, local authorities also need to prioritise and have the correct understanding of green growth and the circular economy, and allocate resources and optimal budget support for infrastructure investment serving green tourism development.
The State needs to encourage businesses to invest in producing and using renewable energy to replace fossil fuels, he said, adding that the State, people, and the business community should work together while calling for support from international organisations, similar to projects the United Nations Development Programme are doing in Vietnam.
Tuan proposed policy recommendations regarding green tourism development in Vietnam, saying that the tourism sector needs policies on tax exemptions for businesses investing in renewable energy, using clean water sources, and treating wastewater and waste in tourist areas./.
