Tourists in a trekking up Fansipan Mountain near Sapa
Kai Partale, a consultant to the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism (ESRT) Programme funded by the European Union, said with an annual tourism growth rate of 9% over the past decade, Vietnam would continue to witness robust development in the sector in the time to come.Vietnam welcomes a large number of international tourists, estimated at over six million annually. It also has a potential domestic tourism market which would obviously grow together with economic development, he noted.
“Vietnam is facing a challenge to find out how to do with its tourism products so as to effectively manage increasing number of tourists and ensure satisfactory services,” he emphasised.
According to him, in several places in the country, uncontrollable tourism development has caused negative impacts on the environment and local communities.
The most prominent impacts include the appropriation of large areas of land for tourism development, which distort natural environments, and decrease biodiversity, and increase water and energy consumption water pollution and waste, he said.
“Even though concept of responsible tourism has gained a foothold in developed countries, it is still at its beginning in Vietnam," he added.
Responsible tourism requires both tourism firms and tourists themselves to take action to mitigate possible socio-economic and environmental impacts, while at the same time increasing the incomes of local residents and communities.
This new model of tourism combines eco-tourism with a community-based structure, including traditional villages and tourism, so as to preserve natural resources and increase community involvement.
There are also efforts to set up sales points for tourists and measures to deal with unwanted soliciting and price gauging.
Pham Quang Hung, Director of Vietravel's northern branch, said responsible tourism is not defined by a specific product or service but calls for travel firms, tourists and stake-holders to show their concern for the environment, community and society they are working or travelling in.
Pham Trung Luong, Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, said responsible tourism would be the top priority in the sector’s development strategy in the time to come.
