On August 15, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province organized an expert workshop on green tourism model.

The workshop attracted more than 100 delegates from state management agencies, businesses and community tourism organizations, and domestic and international sustainable tourism experts.

Aiming at public-private dialogue and consultation, the workshop focused on the possibility of applying international experience and certification in green tourism development, product development innovation, destination management, and sustainable tourism promotion in Quang Nam.

Delegates also discussed policies to improve and enhance the sustainability of the provincial tourism industry based on the assessment results according to the Vietnam Tourism Development Index 2023.

Previously, on August 14, delegates participated in the "Experience Green Tourism in Quang Nam" tour and explored the green tourism model at Dong Khuong craft village (Dien Ban town), Tra Nhieu community tourism village (Duy Xuyen district), and Kim Bong carpentry village (Hoi An city). The workshop and green tour were implemented with funding from the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).

Ms. Sibylle Bachmann, Head of Cooperation - Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, said that since 2018, Switzerland has had many activities to support Quang Nam province in promoting sustainable tourism development by consulting and supporting the development of a set of green tourism criteria as well as developing green tourism models and products in the province.

Through SECO, the Swiss Government is supporting the city of Hoi An to become a globally recognized sustainable tourism destination.

"We will continue to support Quang Nam province in updating its green tourism criteria and helping tourism businesses access international sustainable tourism certification. At the same time, we encourage public-private dialogue to promote the development and implementation of local policies to promote sustainable tourism development," said Ms. Sibylle Bachmann.

According to Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province Nguyen Thanh Hong, the initial effective implementation of the Green Tourism Criteria in Quang Nam province in recent times has been positively supported by SECO. The business community, people and tourists enthusiastically responded and contributed to spreading the brand of the province's green tourism destination.

Over the past 3 years, the Swiss Sustainable Tourism project in Vietnam has helped Quang Nam become the first province in the country to issue and implement a set of green tourism criteria applicable to 6 models: resorts, hotels, homestays, travel businesses, tourist attractions, and community tourism attractions.

Over the implementation period, up to now, 25 tourism enterprises in the field of accommodation, tourist attractions, and travel agencies have been granted green tourism certification by the Provincial People's Committee at levels 2/3 and 3/3 of Ngoc Linh ginseng leaves. In addition, many enterprises have completed their documents to be evaluated and recognized.

"In general, the province's green tourism models are just the beginning but have contributed great value in terms of communicating the province's green tourism orientation, gradually shaping and widely developing the brand "Quang Nam - Green tourism destination", contributing to changing the awareness of people and tourists to be conscious and responsible for preserving the potential tourism values ​​at the destination", said Mr. Hong.

In the coming time, Quang Nam will focus on building a direct support mechanism for the business community and people to create a pilot green tourism model in rural and mountainous areas to expand tourism space in the West and South of the province.

Standing Vice Chairman of Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Phan Thai Binh said that the workshop is an opportunity for relevant parties to review the positive and negative aspects in the process of developing green tourism in Quang Nam and where it is currently on the general tourism development map of Vietnam and the world. Through the workshop, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is requested to absorb and synthesize all opinions and recommendations from experts and businesses to advise the Provincial People's Committee to continue to direct the implementation of promoting green tourism in Quang Nam to develop more effectively and extensively in the coming time.

On this occasion, leaders of Quang Nam province and the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism awarded "Green Tourism" certificates to 12 units; the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam and the Department of Industry and Trade of Quang Nam signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in developing trade and tourism in the province; the three localities of Hoi An - Dien Ban - Duy Xuyen signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in developing tourism in Hoi An - Dien Ban - Duy Xuyen province of Quang Nam.