PM promotes green tourism at National Tourism Year event

Attending the National Tourism Year event in Quang Nam province on Saturday, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasised the importance of creating a "green tourism" environment to attract visitors and promote sustainable development.

The National Tourism Year 2022 event themed “Quang Nam - A green tourism destination” took place on Saturday evening, at Hoi An Memories Land, with about 3,000 guests.

In his opening remarks, Chinh stated that the Covid-19 pandemic has transformed social structures and people’s routines, but also created new tourism trends. "The recovery of global tourism is an opportunity for Vietnam to become a top choice with appealing experiences among international tourists."

To achieve that, the country needs to be consistent with the sustainable values that have been established for many years, he noted. "It is a message of peace, cooperation for development, Vietnam - a safe and friendly country."

Vietnam fully reopened its tourism market to international tourists from March 15 as Covid-19 outbreaks have been placed under control and its vaccination coverage is large.

The National Tourism Year is a cultural, economic, social, and tourism event on a national scale, and the country's largest annual tourism event. It is an opportunity to introduce and promote Vietnam’s unique image, cultural values, resources, and tourism products, while aggressively encouraging the linkage of tourism development between localities.

Chinh added that he saw the pandemic as an opportunity for businesses to restructure human resources, upgrade infrastructure, and refresh tourism products to attract travelers effectively. "Controlling Covid-19 is a prerequisite for the country’s reopening and vigorously promoting tourism development as part of the normalization."

Quang Nam, with a 125km coastline, is well-known for its beautiful beaches and the Cu Lao Cham islands, recognised as the world's biosphere reserve with diversified ecosystems. It is also home to ancient town Hoi An, a UNESCO heritage site.

Le Tri Thanh, Chairman of Quang Nam People’s Committee, said green tourism will become an inevitable tourism trend of choice. "It enhances human consciousness in terms of respecting nature, preserving cultural identity, protecting the ecological environment and restoring biodiversity."

Thanh believed the National Tourism Year 2022 themed "Quang Nam - Green Tourism Destination" would convey the province’s priorities for green and sustainable development.

Earlier, on Saturday morning in Hoi An, The Investor in collaboration with Quang Nam People's Committee organised a conference titled "Quang Nam to develop Green Tourism - Preserve Indigenous Values" and "The announcement ceremony of Quang Nam’s Green Tourism Criteria.”

At the conference, experts proposed synchronous solutions for green tourism prospering, including raising awareness of the authorities, businesses, and people; mobilising resources and developing policy mechanisms to encourage and support enterprises to develop green tourism; and sharing international and domestic experiences on green tourism and services development.