The ticket for sustainable tourism
Vita Green Green Tourism Certification is a brand built and implemented by the Vietnam Tourism Association, based on the comprehensive evaluation criteria in 4 main areas: tourist destination, tourist accommodation, travel businesses and dining facilities for tourists.
According to Mr. Phung Quang Thang - Permanent Vice Chairman of Vietnam Travel Association, President of Vietnam Green Tourism Association, this set of criteria is built based on practice and will be the orientation for the green conversion process of the tourism industry.
The set of green tourism criteria is built on the main pillars: environment, culture, community and education. These criteria are divided into three levels: standards, advanced and excellent, enabling units to gradually approach and achieve green goals flexibly.
According to Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh - Director of the Tourism Research Institute (Vietnam Tourism Association), this certificate is the first step in the journey of local businesses as tourism for the environment. Green certification will also be a competitive advantage for businesses in reaching tourists.
At the same time, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Van Dinh proposed a series of solutions for businesses such as: using environmentally friendly vehicles; developing tourism close to nature, reducing long -term air tourism; restrict the use of disposable plastic in hotels and restaurants; Save water, electricity and use renewable energy in accommodation facilities; Protect the ecosystem, do not exploit excessive natural resources ...
From business to every tourist
Not only from businesses, the changes in traveling of tourists also contribute to this smokeless industry.
Mr. Pham Ha - Chairman of Luxgroup - said that businesses also promote communication to visitors about preserving the environment, limiting the use of plastic products on the trip ...
The tours of the company have now collected about 1.5 USD/person to work as environmental protection fees, used for afforestation activities, cleaning where visitors pass. As in Ha Giang, this amount is invested in solar lights, public water bottles ... to serve the tourists who have experienced the tour.
This is supported by most tourists, with tourists who have returned to the company many times because of the environmental protection actions.
"Green conversion not only protects the natural landscape but also directly brings great profits to businesses for sustainable tourism" - Mr. Pham Ha affirmed.
However, many businesses still have some difficulties in building a green tourist destination. Trang An (Ninh Binh) is currently a highly appreciated destination in the pilot process to minimize plastic waste.
Ms. Hoang Thi Thu Huong, Director of the Market Development Management Board of Trang An Ecotourism Area, said that to keep that green, Trang An had a team of garbage scooping regardless of the morning, noon, and evening and the help of 2,000 boat drivers continuously scientific garbage on the journey of moving.
"Despite the propaganda, the amount of garbage we obtained is still very large. I think that developing a green destination is not only the responsibility of the destination management unit or tourists but also the cooperation and contribution of businesses as traveling, including travel, yachts or accommodation. Businesses should be concerned about the environment, along with the destination protection community instead of only exploiting destinations."
