Khanh Hoa impulses development of responsible tourism

In recent years, tourism enterprises in Khanh Hoa province have focused on developing responsible tourism. Not only focusing on exploiting resources, tourism enterprises are increasingly aware of protecting the environment, promoting values ​​and respecting local culture... to move towards sustainable development.

In the recent time, many tourism enterprises have proactively organized programs to plant trees, clean up trash to protect the environment, turn off lights in response to Earth Hour... Most recently, Long Phu Tourist Joint Stock Company launched a Green Tourism program with the message: "Clean island, blue sea - Thanks for preserving". Accordingly, the company informed partners and tourists about the issuance of the regulation "Do not bring non-degradable plastic items to Orchid Island and Monkey Island " from June 1. Previously, from mid-March, the Orchid Island tourist area officially announced the suspension of elephant riding activities to respond to animal protection, aiming for a friendly tourism model. Instead, the tourist area has implemented new experiential activities such as tourists feeding elephants and taking photos with elephants.

Kid tourists making pottery at Champa Island Nha Trang

However, responsible tourism is not only about protecting the environment, but also promoting values ​​and respecting local culture, creating quality tourism products to increase the experience value for tourists. Understanding this, many hotels and resorts in Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa have increased local dishes to serve tourists or organized Vietnamese cooking classes for tourists. "Along with pho, beef noodle soup, we bring local dishes such as fish noodle soup, banh xeo... to serve tourists in buffets to honor the local cuisine, diversifying the choices of tourists. Domestic and international tourists love these dishes", Le Thi Thanh Thu - General Manager of Adamas Botique Nha Trang Hotel expressed.

Also in the trend of promoting local cultural values, many resorts in Bai Dai (Cam Lam - Cam Ranh) such as Alma, Radisson Blu... are implementing tours to take guests to explore local culture. "With the orientation of developing tourism in a responsible and sustainable way, Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh has increased the use of renewable energy, completely free of disposable plastic waste. The resort always prioritizes local labors to create job opportunities and improve people's living. In addition, to raise environmental awareness and inspire green living, the resort also organizes practical workshops such as recycling coffee grounds, soap, creating products from old fabrics or educational activities on ocean protection..." - Duong Vo - Marketing Director of Radisson Blu Resort Cam Ranh shared.

According to Bui Minh Thang - Director of Phuong Thang Trading and Tourism Company Limited, responsible tourism is an inevitable trend in the world as well as in Vietnam. The good news is that recently, tourism enterprises in the province have focused on developing responsible tourism, especially environmental protection and promoting traditional cultural values ​​in tourism activities; using local labor in tourism activities to contribute to improving people's lives. There are truly green resorts such as Six Senses Ninh Van Bay, An Lam Retreat, Ana Mandara Cam Ranh, etc. ; or Truong Son Craft Village.

Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association organizes to collect trash on the beach.

Regarding this issue, Cung Quynh Anh - Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in tourism development, the province and the tourism industry always call for responsible tourism activities towards sustainable development. The province attaches importance to developing responsible tourism.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has coordinated with Vin Uni University to consult on the development of Khanh Hoa's Green Tourism standards, including green tourism standards for tourist accommodation establishments and green tourism standards for tourist attractions with specific indicators... When issued and implemented, the set of green tourism standards of Khanh Hoa province will contribute to promoting responsible tourism activities towards sustainable tourism development. However, according to Cung Quynh Anh, responsible tourism development is not only something that the government but also businesses, communities and tourists need to take the initiative to implement. In the process of implementing tourism activities, businesses need to proactively integrate to create responsible tourism activities and tourists need to be aware of protecting the environment, respecting local traditional culture and behaving civilly during their travel.

XUAN THANH

Translated by T.T