Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan - Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research

Planning and infrastructure must be "green"

- Reporter: Cat Ba is one of the largest islands in Vietnam. Could you tell us what Cat Ba Island needs to develop green tourism and eco-tourism?

Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan : The potential and advantages of Cat Ba have been recognized by the world, however, there is still much to be done to turn the potential into reality, especially towards the goal of sustainable development. First is planning and infrastructure. Next is investment in developing products and services, exploiting and protecting the environment.

Recently, Hai Phong City announced the Hai Phong City Planning for the period 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050. Cat Ba Island is part of the UNESCO-recognized world natural heritage Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago, so in the development investment planning, it is necessary to focus on preserving the value of the natural heritage to serve not only the present generation but also future generations. The philosophy in investing in the development of Cat Ba Island is to comply with the principles of sustainable development, the planning must take the green philosophy as the main theme. Accordingly, applying green growth models, circular economic models to guide the investment process in developing tourist areas, tourist attractions, tourism service facilities...

Tourists view Cat Ba Island from above

After the planning stage, infrastructure investment must come first. Infrastructure must ensure green transportation, wastewater treatment systems, waste, energy, clean water, postal services, telecommunications, etc. All must follow the principles of sustainable development to ensure the natural values ​​of the island are enhanced and environmental resources are not affected, not only in the short term but also in the long term. Once we have green infrastructure, we can start investing in technical facilities and products and services to attract visitors.

For Cat Ba archipelago to develop green and sustainably, it requires community responsibility in joining hands to preserve and respect resources as well as protect the environment. All levels of government must really get involved; and not only the participation of large, pioneering enterprises is needed, but also the business community, including islanders and tourists, must be fully aware of and comply with the requirements and principles of green and sustainable development on the world natural heritage island.

- In your opinion, what roadmap should Cat Ba follow to become green in all aspects, for example in terms of tourism? Do you have any suggestions regarding the development of the transportation system?

Environmental protection and pollution control are not only issues for Cat Ba but also common issues for many places, especially coastal and island areas. Right from the first step in the development process, we must pay attention to planning, including infrastructure planning as I mentioned, and then start developing tourism products and services based on that infrastructure system. This will reduce costs and improve efficiency in the use of resources.

Restaurant row near Cat Ba Island Central Fishing Port

However, in reality, due to many difficulties and limited resources, there is a situation where the infrastructure is not yet complete but services have been invested in. Therefore, Cat Ba has to face the problem of pollution, wastewater treatment, waste... directly affecting the image and brand of Cat Ba not only in the present but also in the future.

In the trend of world tourists paying top attention to the environment, keeping the island green, clean, beautiful and environmentally friendly is an important factor. Wastewater and waste treatment in Cat Ba is currently a big problem, requiring the government to join with businesses to build a synchronous infrastructure system, treat wastewater and waste, apply modern technology, and not let wastewater and waste be discharged directly into the environment. Large businesses need to take the lead in leading other businesses on the island, including the people, and orienting people to comply with the requirements and principles in the regulations on waste and waste treatment.

Environmental protection is a top priority for the island and so the government must step in, calling for raising awareness among residents and tourists in complying with regulations on environmental resource protection.

- Green ecology is both an advantage and a premise, as well as a direction for sustainable tourism development for Cat Ba Island. What should the government, investors, and the community do to turn Cat Ba into a green eco-tourism island?

Firstly, we must raise awareness, because correct awareness leads to correct action. Secondly, we must strictly enforce laws related to resource and environmental protection such as the Law on Environmental Protection, the Law on Heritage and other legal regulations on resource, environmental and biodiversity protection.

Cat Ba Island attracts tourists to explore the landscape and experience the bay and sea.

Once people are aware, responsibilities must be clearly defined: what the government must do, what the business community must do, what the people must do, and even the responsibilities of tourists. If tourists travel to the island without complying with the principles of respecting and protecting resources and the environment, they must accept the penalty. On one hand, we must raise awareness and encourage people, but on the other hand, we must have strict measures to deal with acts of harming resources, the environment, and the landscape.

Furthermore, to be effective, all parties must join hands to fulfill their roles and responsibilities and raise everyone's awareness to cherish the island, cherish its resource values, ecological values, green values...

“Asia’s Little Maldives” will shape Cat Ba tourism

- Recently, Sun Group Corporation has started the Cat Ba Central Bay Tourism and Commercial Service Area project. How do you evaluate the role and contribution of the project to sustainable economic development, to truly turn Cat Ba into the first green, carbon-free ecological island in Vietnam?

I am very impressed with the fact that Sun Group is investing in a large tourism project with the goal of turning Cat Ba into a “little Maldives of Asia”.

Maldives is a typical island nation of sustainable development, with the ambition to become the first country in the world to develop completely sustainably, with zero carbon emissions by 2030. Sun Group's ambition with the project in Cat Ba to invest in green and sustainable investment coincides with the ambition of Maldives.

I hope Sun Group will create high-class tourism products that meet the needs and tastes of customers, especially meeting the current trend in the world where tourists are always primarily concerned with environmental issues and sustainable development.

Perspective of Cat Ba Central Bay Tourism and Commercial Service Area Project

As a large, pioneering corporation with a lot of experience in investing in tourism development and contributing to the development of tourism in the country, the appearance of Sun Group to invest in high-class, high-end products on the basis of full compliance with the requirements and principles of development towards green growth, circular economy to aim for sustainable development in the center of Cat Ba is very good. This will help Sun Group enhance its brand.

The principle of sustainable development is a world trend, so Sun Group brings the pioneering model from Maldives to Cat Ba Island and brings high-class products based on green and sustainable values, which is the right direction, creating a new mark in sustainable tourism development, not only for Hai Phong but also for the Red River Delta and the whole country. When the completed tourism products are provided to the market, they will certainly be welcomed by tourists, bringing long-term effectiveness to businesses, localities and the entire Vietnamese tourism industry.

- How do you evaluate the role of potential, dedicated and experienced investors like Sun Group in the development of Cat Ba tourism?

Tourism requires huge investment resources. Especially the role of leading, pioneering businesses with large scale, financial potential, experience, professional human resources... investing in projects to anticipate new trends and new tastes of tourists.

The new project will bring green space and many public facilities to residents and tourists to Cat Ba Island.

The appearance of Sun Group Corporation investing in high-class, high-end tourism products is helping Hai Phong solve current problems, especially exploiting its great potential and advantages to become a key tourism development center of the region and the whole country. This is very welcome.

Having a vision, ambition and aspiration, we must turn it into reality and act accordingly. “Asia’s Little Maldives” will have to fully comply with the principles of sustainable development in the investment and development process, all business and investment activities must be truly green... Thus, Sun Group will play a very important role in shaping a new direction for tourism in Hai Phong as well as the whole region in the coming time.

Thank you, sir.