The central province of Quang Nam has prioritised on boosting green tourism while protecting the environment, safe guarding and promoting cultural and historical values as well as natural scenery in order to facilitate sustainable development.
Hoi An city was named among most popular destinations in Tripadvisor Travellers' Choice Awards 2021. (Photo: Duy Hau)
Establishing an environmentally-friendly lifestyle
Joining the efforts of the local authorities and tourism community in Hoi An City, Quang Nam Province has worked to promote an environmentally-friendly lifestyle through small acts such as separating waste, limiting the use of plastic products, and replacing them with environmentally friendly ones.
There are more and more restaurants in Hoi An City that no longer use plastic straws and cups, replacing them with rice straws and paper cups. Owners of many homestays, villas, hotels and restaurant have been paying greater attention to turning kitchen waste to organic fertilizer, and following sustainable practices to minimise their environmental impact. The living green lifestyle has also spread out to local households and visitors to the city.
Statistics from the city’s Office of Natural Resources and Environment, tourism and people's activities have generated more than 15,000 tonnes of waste per year, placing increasing pressure on the city’s waste treatment system.
According to Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee Nguyen Van Son, the local authorities have worked to develop Hoi An not only a safe and friendly destination, but also a green, clean and beautiful city, deserving of its title as one of the most popular travel destinations in the world, as voted by famous online travel website Tripadvisor in 2021.
To turn words into action, several policies on sustainable development have been promulgated, with a focus on raising public awareness of solid waste, reducing plastic bags and kitchen waste, fostering environmental education at schools, and enhancing businesses’ capacity for environmental protection.
The city’s authorities have also implemented communication activities and have gained encouraging results in raising awareness among accommodation establishments and restaurants.
Promoting green tourism
A cafe in the middle of a rice field in Quang Nam province (Photo: VNA)
Phan Xuan Thanh, Chairman of Quang Nam provincial Tourism Association, said that the implementation of green tourism products and responsible tourism has drawn enthusiastic participation from tourism businesses in Hoi An City as well as from Quang Nam Province in general.
He reported that more than 60 businesses currently operating in Hoi An have committed to zero waste. The city has targeted to have at least 70-100 firms receive green tourism certification by 2025.
As the host of the National Tourism Year 2022, Quang Nam Province will offer locals and visitors with up to 192 events, including 10 national-level ones, 62 organised by the province, and 120 others staged by 40 centrally run cities and provinces in response to the tourism year.
The Government and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s choice to name Quang Nam as one of destinations to pilot the plan to welcome back international tourists has shown recognition of the province's efforts and ability to ensure safety conditions for holidaymakers. Not only having experience in welcoming and ensuring safety for visitors amidst COVID-19 pandemic, the province also has a high vaccine coverage rate with 97% of locals having received at least two shots of COVID-19 vaccine.
The province has also attached much attention to improving tourism infrastructure and increasing the quality of green tourism products at UNESCO-recognised sites of Hoi An City, My Son Sanctuary, and Cu Lao Cham Marine Park.
Tran Van Tan, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee, said that Quang Nam has determined that green tourism contributes to sustainable development, environmental protection, and the preservation and promotion of cultural, historical and natural landscape values.
To achieve this goal, the provincial authorities will focus on raising awareness about green tourism among sectors, the business community and local people. Priorities have also been made to developing green tourism products and services, enhancing skill training in sustainable tourism for the workforce in order to increase competitiveness and attractiveness of the provincial hospitality sector.