Vietnam tourism promotes green transformation for sustainable development

Taking place from April 11-14, the Hanoi International Tourism Fair 2024 (VITM Hanoi 2024) is expected to welcome over 3,500 Vietnamese and international tourism businesses to work with about 80,000 Vietnamese and international visitors to visit and shop.

On the morning of April 11, VITM Hanoi 2024 officially opened with the theme "Vietnam Tourism - Green transformation for sustainable development".

Khai mạc VITM Hà Nội 2024: Du lịch Việt Nam thúc đẩy chuyển đổi xanh để phát triển bền vững

Delegates together opened VITM Hanoi 2024. (Photo: Le An)

Speaking at the ceremony, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong affirmed that Vietnam's tourism industry is showing signs of recovery and strong development with positive changes.

In the first 3 months of 2024, Vietnam welcomed and served about 4.6 million arrivals, an increase of 78.6% over the same period last year, 3.2% higher than the same period in 2019. Domestic tourists reached 30 million arrivals, total tourism revenue is estimated at 195 trillion VND. The above results show that Vietnam's tourism in 2024 is expected to recover completely, surpassing the record of 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Deputy Minister Ho An Phong emphasized that VITM Hanoi is an important event, of great significance, very practical and proposed by the Vietnam Tourism Association and maintained to be held annually.

The theme “Vietnam Tourism - Green Transformation for Sustainable Development” reflects the trend of tourism development in the future, is an open forum, including many professional activities, is a good opportunity, an ideal meeting place for domestic and international tourism businesses to continue to strengthen partnerships as well as trade, exchange, and connect current and future business opportunities.

According to Mr. Ho An Phong, this is also an opportunity for tourism promotion agencies and destination management agencies to introduce new tourism products and destinations to partners, customers and the public.

Through this fair, tourism businesses will find and meet many new partners, many contracts will be signed, creating momentum for the development of tourism in Vietnam, in the region and around the world.

Performing arts at the opening ceremony of VITM Hanoi 2024. (Photo: Le An)

On behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Deputy Minister acknowledged and appreciated the role of the Vietnam Tourism Association in creating this professional "playground" for tourism businesses and localities to promote the development of the tourism industry and promote the development of other economic sectors.

He shared: "I hope VITM Hanoi 2024 will contribute to stimulating domestic tourism, creating good opportunities for localities and businesses to introduce products, services, and link tourism development between regions across the country, achieving high efficiency in both business and promotion of destinations and tourism products, effectively implementing the Prime Minister's directive in Resolution No. 82/NQ-CP on key tasks and solutions to accelerate recovery, accelerate effective and sustainable tourism development and Directive No. 08/CT-TTg on comprehensive, fast and sustainable tourism development in the coming time".

Reporting at VITM 2024, Ms. Cao Thi Ngoc Lan, Permanent Vice President of Vietnam Tourism Association, said that over the past decade, VITM has grown strongly, becoming a national and international tourism event and playing an increasingly important role, attracting the participation of many domestic and foreign businesses.

This year's fair aims to promote a new trend: developing responsible tourism associated with environmental protection; directing tourism businesses, authorities at all levels, sectors, communities and tourists to pay close attention to environmental protection; encouraging businesses to build green destinations, green tourism products, train a workforce with knowledge of green tourism, and implement green promotion activities to contribute to making Vietnam tourism soon become a green economic sector of Vietnam.

VITM Hanoi 2024 will host many tourism promotion activities, through meetings between businesses and businesses; businesses and tourists, and activities of Vietnam and international tourism promotion agencies.

The highlight of the specialized events at VITM Hanoi 2024 is the Forum “Vietnam Tourism - Green Transformation for Sustainable Development” organized by the Vietnam Tourism Association in collaboration with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Vietnam Institute for Tourism Development Research.

The forum attracted the attention of representatives of state management agencies, domestic and international tourism experts, leaders of tourism businesses, destination management agencies, media agencies, etc. to exchange and discuss to raise awareness and action in green transformation for Vietnam tourism; build effective linkage and coordination mechanisms to mobilize resources to implement green transformation in the tourism sector.

Along with that, the Ceremony to honor "Outstanding Enterprises and Individuals in Vietnam Tourism Industry in 2024" is an annual activity to honor the Tourism Associations of provinces and cities, outstanding enterprises and individuals in the tourism industry and related organizations who have made contributions, positive contributions, and achieved excellent results in 2023.

VITM Hanoi 2024 exhibition space on the opening day. (Photo: Le An)

In addition, many exchange and tourism promotion programs on the sidelines of the Fair by affiliated units and localities will make the Fair vibrant and colorful with unique art performances, imbued with cultural elements by art troupes from within the country and participating countries and territories.

There are 55 provinces and cities of Vietnam, 16 countries and territories registered to participate in the Fair with over 450 booths of over 700 units, of which 25% are international booths. Visitors to VITM Hanoi 2024 will have many interesting experiences when coming to promotional programs, discounted air tickets, cheap hotel rooms and OCOP products of regions across the country.

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