Towards a 'Green Destination' on the world tourism map

The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Khanh Hoa province has just launched a campaign for all people to participate in the program “Green Action - For a Green Future” with the aim of becoming a “Green Destination” on the world tourism map. This is considered a “plus point” for Khanh Hoa tourism to increase its attraction to domestic and international tourists.

Join hands to act

The program "Green Action - For a Green Future" (with the support of the "For a Green Future" Fund under Vingroup Corporation) will focus on 7 essential daily areas, including: Clean green food and drinks, green transportation, green accommodation, green space, green entertainment, green air and green people. In particular, the clean green food and drinks sector must comply with green standards as well as use clean and fresh/green food consistently at all food and accommodation establishments... in the province. Public areas in Nha Trang City will be installed with clean water taps for tourists to reduce the rate of bottled water use leading to plastic bottle waste into the environment.

Alma Resort managers and staff took action to pick up trash and clean the beach.

According to Mr. Nguyen Viet Quang - Vice Chairman of Vingroup Corporation, in response to the province's program, brands of Vingroup Corporation operating in the province, such as: Vinpearl, Vinmec, VinUni will have green action plans. In particular, Vinpearl - a tourism - resort - entertainment service brand commits to converting 100% of plastic bottled water into glass bottles, reusing public clean water sources on Hon Tre Island; adding free bicycle services and organizing bicycle tours around the island and the city... Vinpearl's accommodation areas also reduce air conditioning in common areas, recommending visitors to set room temperature at 25ºC or higher; organize recycling classes, increase nature connection activities for children, such as: Glamping camping, mountain climbing, forest exploration; reduce waste on the entire Hon Tre Island and operating facilities of the whole system; organize periodic cleaning weeks...

Spread green tourism

Previously, in mid-June, responding to the campaign "For the ocean to be free of plastic waste", 13 resorts in Bai Dai area (Cam Lam district) launched a campaign to clean up trash on the beach. "Bai Dai is one of the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam, so all we need to do is keep this beach clean. That is also a way to develop sustainable tourism... We plan to not only clean up trash in the beach areas of the resorts but also clean up Bai Dai beach from the north to the south. The campaign will spread more and more and attract more participants," said Mr. Herbert Laubichler-Pichler - CEO of Alma Resort (who initiated the trash collection program). Currently, the resorts in Bai Dai are planning to coordinate with the Rotary Club Saigon International to raise funds, aiming to establish a plastic waste recycling plant in the Cam Lam - Cam Ranh area.

In tourism activities, businesses in the province are increasingly aware of environmental protection, aiming for green tourism. For many years, Ana Mandara Nha Trang Resort (now succeeded by Ana Mandara Cam Ranh) has served tourists with glass bottled water instead of plastic bottles, disposable bamboo or rice straws... "We always aim to develop green tourism by creating green spaces, minimizing waste discharge into the environment. Currently, the resort has said no to disposable plastic products", Mr. Le Dai Hai - General Manager of Ana Mandara Cam Ranh Resort shared.

Managers and staff of Novotel Nha Trang Hotel picked up trash on the beach in front of Bach Dang Park, Nha Trang City.

In 2020, after the Department of Tourism launched the "Say no to plastic" movement, many resorts, such as Hon Tam, Champa Island, Fusion, The Anam... focused on limiting the use of plastic products to contribute to environmental protection. In particular, Champa Island used self-expanding tissue paper instead of wet towels wrapped in plastic bags; built a plastic waste park to promote environmental protection awareness among tourists. Previously, Long Phu Tourism Joint Stock Company used waste materials to build a 5,000m2 waste park in Hon Lao - Monkey Island Tourist Area...

The green tourism movement is gradually spreading. Currently, most resorts have switched from using cloth bags for guests to carry their belongings instead of plastic bags as before. The restriction of the use of disposable plastic products has also been responded to by many tourism businesses. "Sustainable tourism has become a principle and a common trend in tourism development of every country in the world. Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa cannot stand outside this trend," said Mr. Pham Minh Nhut - Permanent Vice President of Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh - Director of the Department of Tourism said that the provincial tourism sector has had many activities to promote and encourage businesses to develop green tourism, minimizing the impact on the environment. "With the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of the province calling on the whole population to participate in the Program "Green Action - For a Green Future", I believe that in the coming time, the Party committees, authorities at all levels, agencies, departments, sectors, organizations, communities and tourists will have more activities to support the development of green tourism, joining hands to develop for the community. The tourism sector will also have plans and action programs to respond to the Program "Green Action - For a Green Future", Ms. Thanh said.

THANH NGUYEN

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