Over the years, Vietnam’s tourism sector has made big steps forwards in terms of visitor number and revenue in both domestic and international markets. However, the sector’s growth is posing pressure on natural and cultural preservation in destinations.

Experts held that as Vietnam's tourism is mainly based on available natural and cultural resources, ensuring its green development and responsibility to the environment and society is the only way for the sector to grow and become a national spearhead economic sector.

The Eurobarometer survey on Attitudes of Europeans towards tourism shows that COVID-19 will likely have long-term impacts on EU citizens’ travelling behavior, while also demonstrating the growing importance of sustainable tourist offers for the recovery of tourism.

The survey finds out that 38% of European respondents are expecting more domestic travelling in the future. A large majority of EU citizens (82%) are prepared to change some of their habits to support more sustainable tourism, for example, by consuming local products (55%), choosing ecological means of transport (36%) or by paying more to protect the natural environment (35%) or to benefit the local community (33%).

A survey by the Institute for Tourism Development Research under the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT) on the willingness of international tourists in developing sustainable tourism showed that 76% are willing to reduce holiday waste; 62% are ready to consume local products; 45% prefer transport that has little impact on the environment; 45% choose time off outside of peak season; 38% are willing to support local communities; 31% can choose a less popular destination; and 28% are willing to reduce water use during vacation.

In reality, the habit of green consumption has not only been popular among foreign tourists but also among domestic visitors.

According to a survey by Booking.com, 88% of domestic tourists said that COVID-19 pandemic has prompted them to travel in a sustainable manner.

They tend to be more willing to pay more to reduce impacts to the environment and local cultural heritage, while standing ready to join activities to save the environment in destinations.

Realising the trend, many localities have paid greater attention to green tourism development. Hoi An city has called for tourists’ reduction of single-use plastic waste towards a goal of cutting 13-15% of plastic waste each year and no plastic waste by 2025.

Co To island of Quang Ninh province has also applied similar policy, advising tourists to not take plastic bags and bottles with them while travelling.

In a decision issued on July 22, 2022 on a national action plan on green growth in the 2021-2030 period, the Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to focus on completing institutions and policy on tourism development management towards green and sustainable direction, and prioritising green tourism models and products.

The national tourism development strategy until 2030 also clarified the sustainable and inclusive direction of Vietnamese tourism basing on green growth and the optimising of tourism’s contributions to sustainable development goals.

Pham Thi Hai Yen from Hanoi University of Culture held that Vietnam should design preferential investment policies for green tourism projects, and invest more on the research and application of technologies and the use of alternative energy, and promoting “3R” (Reduce-Reuse-Recycle) habit during tourism activities.

From a business perspective, Cao Quoc Chung, deputy director of Vidotour company’s branch in Hanoi, affirmed that Vietnam can fully grasp and take advantage of the trend of choosing green tourism among tourists to harmonise tourism development and community ecological environment protection.

It is necessary to pay special attention to creating memorable experiences and interactions for tourists with the local community, as this is an important factor helping to boost tourism development in a sustainable, environmentally and socially responsible manner, he said.