Hanoi (VNA) – Amid a rising trend of green andsustainable tourism after the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam is advised to design a strategy and measures to promote green tourism development and better meettourists’ demands.

Over the years, Vietnam’s tourism sector has made big stepsforwards in terms of visitor number and revenue in both domestic andinternational markets. However, the sector’s growth is posing pressure onnatural and cultural preservation in destinations.

Experts held that as Vietnam's tourism is mainly based onavailable natural and cultural resources, ensuring its green development andresponsibility to the environment and society is the only way for the sector togrow and become a national spearhead economic sector.

The Eurobarometer survey on Attitudes of Europeans towardstourism shows that COVID-19 will likely have long-term impacts on EU citizens’travelling behavior, while also demonstrating the growing importance ofsustainable tourist offers for the recovery of tourism.

The survey finds out that 38% of European respondents areexpecting more domestic travelling in the future. A large majority of EU citizens(82%) are prepared to change some of their habits to support more sustainabletourism, for example, by consuming local products (55%), choosing ecologicalmeans of transport (36%) or by paying more to protect the natural environment(35%) or to benefit the local community (33%).

A survey by the Institute for Tourism Development Researchunder the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) on the willingness ofinternational tourists in developing sustainable tourism showed that 76% arewilling to reduce holiday waste; 62% are ready to consume local products; 45% prefertransport that has little impact on the environment; 45% choose time offoutside of peak season; 38% are willing to support local communities; 31% canchoose a less popular destination; and 28% are willing to reduce water useduring vacation.

In reality, the habit of green consumption has not only beenpopular among foreign tourists but also among domestic visitors.

According to a survey by Booking.com, 88% of domestictourists said that COVID-19 pandemic has prompted them to travel in asustainable manner.

They tend to be more willing to pay more to reduce impactsto the environment and local cultural heritage, while standing ready to joinactivities to save the environment in destinations.

Realising the trend, many localities have paid greaterattention to green tourism development. Hoi An city has called for tourists’reduction of single-use plastic waste towards a goal of cutting 13-15% ofplastic waste each year and no plastic waste by 2025.

Co To island of Quang Ninh province has also applied similar policy,advising tourists to not take plastic bags and bottles with them whiletravelling.

In a decision issued on July 22, 2022 on a national actionplan on green growth in the 2021-2030 period, the Prime Minister asked the Ministryof Culture, Sports and Tourism to focus on completing institutions and policy ontourism development management towards green and sustainable direction, andprioritising green tourism models and products.

The national tourism development strategy until 2030 alsoclarified the sustainable and inclusive direction of Vietnamese tourism basingon green growth and the optimising of tourism’s contributions to sustainabledevelopment goals.

Pham Thi Hai Yen from Hanoi University of Culture heldthat Vietnam should design preferential investment policies for green tourismprojects, and invest more on the research and application of technologies andthe use of alternative energy, and promoting “3R” (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) habitduring tourism activities.

From a business perspective, Cao Quoc Chung, Deputy Directorof Vidotour company’s branch in Hanoi, affirmed that Vietnam can fully grasp andtake advantage of the trend of choosing green tourism among tourists to harmonisetourism development and community ecological environment protection.

It is necessary to pay special attention to creatingmemorable experiences and interactions for tourists with the local community, asthis is an important factor helping to boost tourism development in a sustainable,environmentally and socially responsible manner, he said./.