Green tourism has been a matter of concern for a long time in Vietnam, including Thua Thien Hue province. (Source: Communist Party)

Green tourism has been a matter of concern for a long time in Vietnam, including Thua Thien Hue province. The province has chosen green connectivity as the orientation for future tourism development - the connection of 4 factors: green destination, green journey, green people and green services to form green tourism products.

Outstanding cultural heritage

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Director of Thua Thien Hue Department of Tourism, said that the solid foundation for developing green tourism in the province is that the province owns an environmentally friendly landscape right in the heart of the city. Hue is the first city in Vietnam to be honored by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) as a "National Green City" with a green density per capita of 12.9 m²/person (2022). Green trees and green parks are arranged evenly throughout the city, along the rivers.

In addition, the province also possesses a system of natural landscapes of rivers, seas, mountains, and forests that are very interesting and attractive, with a long-standing cultural tradition; and the ancient capital of Hue, which preserves a cultural "heritage" that is typical of Vietnamese culture and all of humanity.

The province also has a rich system of natural tourism resources, many beautiful beaches such as Lang Co, Thuan An, Canh Duong. In particular, the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system is the largest in Southeast Asia, along with a system of rivers and canals stretching across the province such as Huong River, O Lau River, Bo River, Truoi River, etc.

From these systems, Thua Thien Hue can develop many types of tourism such as high-quality cultural tourism combined with sea tourism, community tourism, ecology, and resorts.

In recent times, promoting its potential and advantages, Thua Thien Hue has promoted attracting investment in green tourism with the goal of green growth and sustainable development, preserving the natural landscape and living environment.

The Department of Tourism of Thua Thien Hue province said that the Provincial People's Council has issued a number of policies to support the development of community tourism, support, protect and promote the value of typical garden houses and ancient houses in the province.

At the same time, the tourism industry and localities in the province have supported the formation and development of many products and tours associated with ecological conservation, raising awareness of environmental protection, and supporting livelihoods for the community.

Up to now, the province has 15 tourist destinations recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as provincial-level tourist destinations, including 12 eco-tourism and community-based eco-tourism destinations. For example: Luong Quan - Nguyet Bieu garden house in Hue city, Thanh Toan tile bridge area in Huong Thuy town or Dam Chuon eco-tourism area in Phu Vang district...

Thua Thien Hue has been developing the tourism industry in a sustainable direction, building tourism products suitable to new trends of tourists. (Source: Investment Newspaper)

Applying digital technology to green tourism development

The green tourism development orientation of Thua Thien Hue tourism industry is determined to closely follow the goal of Resolution No. 54-NQ/TW of the Politburo on building and developing Thua Thien Hue to 2030, with a vision to 2045: "Building and developing Thua Thien Hue to become a centrally-run city on the basis of preserving and promoting the values ​​of the ancient capital's heritage and Hue's cultural identity, with cultural, heritage, ecological, landscape, environmentally friendly and smart characteristics".

At the recent conference "Connecting Hue Tourism 2023", Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Trung Khanh assessed that Thua Thien Hue has been developing the tourism industry in a sustainable direction, building tourism products suitable to new trends of tourists.

"Thua Thien Hue needs to identify and focus on developing a number of outstanding tourism products with the province's advantages to bring attractive experiences to tourists. Improve professionalism in traditional activities, promote tourism products and programs to attract tourists to position the brand.

Digital transformation is a major policy of our Party and State with the issuance of many guiding documents and resolutions. Applying information technology and promoting digital transformation to effectively support tourism recovery is also very necessary for localities in the current context," Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh suggested.

The Director of Thua Thien Hue Department of Tourism informed that to continue developing green tourism, the Department will research and effectively exploit resources, build and develop tours, experiential tourism products, eco-tourism, resort tourism, community tourism, rural agricultural tourism, sports tourism... sightseeing activities, exploring islands, ensuring the principles of developing eco-tourism, culture, history in a sustainable manner and sharing benefits with the community.

At the same time, the department will apply digital technology achievements to the management of green tourism development.