Developing Southern tourism in a green and sustainable direction | Tourism

2023-09-23 04:25:35

Rose Field tourist area in Tan Quy Dong ward, Sa Dec city, Dong Thap. (Photo: Nguyen Van Tri/TTXVN)

The theme of World Tourism Day (September 27) 2023 chosen by the World Tourism Organization is “Green Tourism and Investment”, showing the necessity of investing and developing the integrated economic sector towards Green, sustainable growth.

The Southern region, including the Southeast and the Mekong Delta, are key national tourism regions; the recovery and development of tourism after the COVID-19 period cannot be outside the above trajectory.

VNA reporters noted the opinions of experts, managers and solutions implemented in localities to realize the goal of developing tourism towards Green and sustainable growth through two articles: “Development of tourism in the direction of Green Growth and sustainability”. Developing Southern tourism in a green and sustainable direction.”

Lesson 1: Exploiting outstanding strengths for development Green Tourism

The Southern region of our country includes 19 provinces and cities, a place with diverse ecological terrain, communities of many ethnic groups living with unique cultural features, creating outstanding strengths to develop tourism with Green and sustainable growth orientation.

Ensuring sustainable development

Vietnam is one of the countries in the region that soon approached the Green Growth model. Since 2012, the Government has had a National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2011-2020, with a vision to 2050.

Next, in 2021, the National Strategy on Green Growth for the period 2021-2030, vision to 2050 was issued with the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2030; greening economies; greening lifestyles and promoting sustainable consumption; Greening the transition process on the principles of equality, inclusion, and enhancing resilience.

The strategy also orients the development of key industries and fields, including promoting green transformation in the tourism industry.

Green Tourism is understood as tourism based on the foundation of rational exploitation of resources, development associated with environmental protection, biodiversity conservation, reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation to climate change. .

Green Tourism is based on nature and culture, has environmental education, contributes to conservation and sustainable development efforts, and actively involves local communities.

From this perspective, compared with the two key tourist regions, the Southeast and the Mekong Delta, experts and managers evaluate these as areas with outstanding potential to ensure development. Sustainable tourism following the orientation of Green Growth and sustainability.

Tourism development is carried out in association with the exploitation and effective use of natural resources and environmental protection…

Over the past time, Vietnamese tourism in general and the Southern region in particular has had strong and impressive growth. Ho Chi Minh City, the country’s vibrant tourist city, welcomes about 40 million domestic and foreign tourists each year on average.

Ba Ria-Vung Tau with its strengths in sea, island, resort, and ecological tourism associated with learning about historical and cultural relics, has the coastal city of Vung Tau, which wins the title of ASEAN Clean Tourism City every year. 15-16 million visitors.

Children experience catching fish at Nha May Garden Tourist Area, Long Tan commune, Dat Do district, Ba Ria-Vung Tau. (Photo: Hoang Nhi/TTXVN)

In the Mekong Delta, Can Tho river urban area, Dong Thap, Ben Tre provinces… are destinations associated with gardens growing fruit trees, flowers, and ornamental plants that are increasingly chosen by many tourists.

Dr. Doan Manh Cuong (Office of the National Assembly) affirmed that the Southern region has great potential for sustainable and inclusive tourism development, based on Green Growth from diverse resources and beautiful landscapes. landscapes, cultural and historical relics, ecosystems associated with the natural environment and rivers.

In addition to contributing to nature conservation, biodiversity protection and community culture, Green Tourism development has been bringing economic benefits, creating opportunities to increase jobs and increase income. for local people.

This is completely consistent with the orientations in national planning, regional planning and local planning on tourism development in general and sustainable tourism development or Green Growth in particular.

[Đẩy mạnh liên kết vùng, phát triển du lịch xanh bền vững vùng Nam Bộ]

In-depth analysis of sustainable tourism development, Green Tourism at Mekong DeltaDr. Dinh Tien Minh (Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics) and his colleagues believe that sustainable tourism development on the basis of Green Growth helps minimize costs and maximize the benefits of tourism for the natural environment and local communities, can be implemented in the long term without adversely affecting resources.

The Mekong Delta is facing many development opportunities but also faces many vital risks and challenges such as climate change and rising sea levels, which have had a severe impact in recent years. Therefore, tourism development must continue to comply with commitments to ensure sustainable development, including related issues such as climate change response, environmental protection, and product diversity. Eco-tourism, garden tourism, original cultural tourism, and resort tourism are essential.

Affirming value

The master plan for Vietnam Tourism development to 2020, vision to 2030 identifies the Southeast and the Mekong Delta as two of seven tourist regions with an important role in the country’s tourism development. .

The Southeast region aims to exploit typical tourism products such as MICE tourism; cultural tourism, festivals, entertainment; beach resort tourism, weekend entertainment tourism, sports tourism, shopping tourism; Tourism associated with border gates.

The Mekong Delta focuses on exploiting the following products: Ecotourism (garden, wetland); Island Tourism; Cultural tourism and festivals. These are typical tourism products, helping to increase competitive value on the basis of respecting natural resources and indigenous culture, associated with environmental protection, clearly demonstrating the direction of sustainable development according to the principles of sustainable development. Green Growth direction, climate change adaptation.

Tourists visit Tram Chim National Park, Tam Nong, Dong Thap. (Photo: Chuong Dai/VNA)

According to Master Do Thanh Hien, Academy of Politics Region I (Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics), in general terms, in terms of natural geography, the South includes two parts with different characteristics. .

South East is a high plain with ancient alluvial terraces, a semi-plain with basalt red soil and a relatively flat Mekong Delta.

The South is located in the sub-equatorial climate zone, less affected by storms, less erratic in climate, has many large lakes, long rivers, diverse forest ecosystems… very favorable for tourism development. calendar.

The South also has a long coastline creating beautiful beaches, clear blue water, islands and archipelagos such as Phu Quoc, Tho Chu, Nam Du… are highlights of island tourism.

Along with that, the South has tourism resources associated with mountain and forest landscapes such as Ba Den Mountain (Tay Ninh), Ba Ra Mountain (Binh Phuoc), Chua Chan Mountain (Dong Nai), Sap Mountain (An Giang), Da Dung mountain (Kien Giang)…

This place also has many tourism products associated with the landscape and river and lake ecosystems such as Saigon River, Vam Co River, Dong Nai River, Tien River, Hau River, Ong Doc River, Dau Tieng Lake, Tri An Lake, Thac Mo Lake.

Ecotourism destinations are formed in association with National Parks, biosphere reserves, conservation areas, and mangrove forests such as Can Gio Mangrove Biosphere Reserve and Dong Nai Biosphere Reserve. recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve, the system of Cat Tien National Park (Dong Nai), Con Dao National Park (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Bu Gia Map National Park (Binh Phuoc), Lo Xo-Xa Mat National Park (Tay Ninh), U Minh Thuong National Park (Kien Giang), Tram Chim National Park (Dong Thap)…

Along with that, the Southeast and the Mekong Delta are multi-ethnic regions, where ethnic minorities from all regions of the country settle and live, with diverse cultural identities and diversity. historical-cultural relics, archaeological sites.

These are the resources that form many cultural tourism products, contributing to the sustainable development of tourism in the entire region.

From a local perspective, referring to specific tourism products that show a green and sustainable development orientation, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Xuan, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Gio district (Ho Chi Minh City) said. Can Gio is the only suburban district in Ho Chi Minh City that has both forest and sea, favorable for the development of environmentally friendly tourism products, associated with the conservation of natural resources and community cultural identity. fellow residents.

A typical example is the community tourism product of Thieng Lieng island hamlet in Thanh An commune, which has just been put into operation since the end of 2022 with 16 outstanding destinations.

On the journey to Thieng Lieng island hamlet, visitors have the opportunity to experience the salt making profession, visit the nostalgic space, listen to amateur music, enjoy the cool breeze of the Long Tau River, the vast Sac forest, Visit the white salt fields along with the houses and gardens of people on the island commune, enjoy culinary specialties, herbal foot baths…

This is a tourism product associated with a fresh natural environment, vividly demonstrating the development of Green Tourism products, environmentally friendly and promoting unique indigenous cultural values./.

Lesson 2: Need a synchronous solution

Thanh Tra – Nhat Binh (VNA/Vietnam+)