BUILDING A UNIFORM AND PROFESSIONAL ECOSYSTEM
The merger of the Da Nang Tourism Association and the Quang Nam Tourism Association into the (new) Da Nang Tourism Association opens up opportunities for comprehensive connection, building a synchronous and professional ecosystem... enhancing the position of local destinations.
Comprehensive connectivity
As the two leading “tourism cores” in the Central region, Da Nang city and Quang Nam province (old) have long established their own brands. In particular, Da Nang stands out with its system of high-class hotels and resorts, international festival events such as the fireworks festival or the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Meanwhile, Quang Nam is the land of the heritage of Hoi An ancient town, My Son temple towers and the strong development of community tourism and green tourism models.
Tourists enjoy SUP paddling at My Khe beach, Da Nang city.
Mr. Cao Tri Dung, interim Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, affirmed that the two associations “coming together under one roof” is an inevitable step to take advantage of inter-regional strengths, optimize resources and create a more diverse and unique product chain. The unification of the organization will help the business community have a stronger voice in policy consultation, proposing investment in service infrastructure and promoting destinations.
“Instead of operating separately, businesses will participate in a large tourism ecosystem, where each link can flexibly connect to create added value for tourists. More importantly, this merger is the premise for developing unique joint products between Da Nang and Quang Nam. Like a journey to explore heritage combined with relaxation from Hoi An to Ba Na Hills, from My Son to Son Tra beaches, it can completely become a new key product if professionally designed, well communicated and effectively operated,” said Mr. Dung.
Sharing this view, Mr. Phan Xuan Thanh, former Chairman of the Quang Nam Tourism Association (formerly) commented that this is the first step for a strong and sustainable connection between tourism and service businesses. “Developing a unified and synchronized tourism ecosystem helps us maintain the current number of visitors and open up many new potential markets. In my opinion, consolidation is not about dividing the market share but creating conditions for each locality to promote its own strengths in a common strategy,” Mr. Thanh affirmed.
Professionalization and sustainable development
The notable point in the new strategy of the Danang Tourism Association after the merger is to promote the organization of tourism events with regional imprints. Mr. Tran Kim Tho, General Secretary of the Danang Hotel Association, said that this is an opportunity to promote the Hotel Association Cup football tournament, the Professional Chef Competition, the Green Tourism Festival... into annual activities with spreading value inside and outside the industry.
Meanwhile, to meet the goal of professionalizing human resources, Mr. Nguyen Duc Quynh, Vice President of Da Nang Tourism Association, President of Da Nang Hotel Association emphasized that training and updating trends are key tasks.
Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area is one of 33 units recognized as meeting the standards of the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria Set.
The Association will coordinate with units such as IBH Academy to design training programs on market management, business operations, and digital transformation to improve capacity for the entire system.
In addition, updating soft skills, language, cultural understanding and professional behavior will help tourism staff quickly adapt to the strict requirements of international tourists. This is also an important factor to affirm service quality, creating a good impression for the destination in the future.
In order for the local tourism industry to accelerate and compete on an international scale, building a synchronous and professional tourism ecosystem is a key requirement. In particular, it is necessary to pay attention to inter-regional transport infrastructure, uniform quality accommodation facilities, to experiential services, smart utilities, and new tour organization models.
Mr. Cao Tri Dung said: “One of the upcoming priorities is to call for investment in new tourism models such as healing tourism, creative tourism, MICE tourism (resort tourism combined with conferences, seminars, exhibitions), combined with the conservation of natural resources and indigenous culture. Tourists are increasingly demanding more, not only in terms of beautiful scenery or amenities, but also in terms of personal experiences, friendliness and a sense of attachment to the place they visit.”
With a long-term vision and specific steps, Da Nang tourism industry is laying the foundation for a new stage of development.
Ms. Linh Chi, Head of the Homestay Villa Association in Hoi An, hopes that the association will continue to promote community engagement programs, raise awareness of conservation and develop unique experiential spaces. “If we expand our connection with Hue city, Da Nang can completely form a “heritage - resort - cultural tourism triangle” to attract international tourists, as well as bring different values to the Central region destination,” Ms. Chi said.
SPREADING THE WASTE REDUCTION TOURISM NETWORK
From the first milestone
Quang Nam Province (old) approached the trend of sustainable tourism, minimizing environmental impact very early, for example the initiative "say no to plastic bags" in Cu Lao Cham (Tan Hiep commune) since 2009.
Recycled, environmentally friendly products produced by businesses in Hoi An contribute to spreading the trend of waste-reducing tourism.
The official milestone of this trend in Quang Nam can be seen in September 2019, when the Quang Nam Tourism Association organized a workshop and conveyed the message of plastic waste-free tourism.
Over the past 6 years, stakeholders in Quang Nam have joined hands to persistently spread the zero-waste tourism trend with many notable highlights. Including: Hoi An business program committed to reducing waste and single-use plastics; program to increase business participation in reducing waste in Hoi An; promulgation of a set of criteria for green tourism in Quang Nam; expanding zero-waste practices at Quang Nam tourist destinations...
And most recently, on July 9, in Hoi An, the Zero Waste Tourism Network in Vietnam was launched, with the core being local tourism entities.
Ms. Ha Thi Dieu Vien, General Manager of Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort (Hoi An Tay ward) shared that each tourism unit pursuing the zero-waste tourism trend has its own journey with many difficulties and challenges.
But thanks to that, Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort has been recognized as the first zero-plastic waste hotel in Vietnam; awarded Travelife certification (a prestigious international certification for sustainable tourism) as well as a certificate of meeting Quang Nam green tourism standards.
Mr. Phan Xuan Thanh, representative of the Interim Tourism Association of Da Nang City, Chairman of the Quang Nam Tourism Association (old) commented that the pioneering waste resource management models in Hoi An will spread inspiration and promote the tourism business community in the new Da Nang city in particular and Vietnam in general to act together for the goal of green and sustainable development.
Silk Sense Hoi An River Resort is one of the tourism units actively cooperating and implementing technologies to minimize waste generation.
Strategic move
According to Ms. Quach Thi Xuan, Country Director of the Pacific Environment Organization Vietnam, single-use plastic is tarnishing the image of tourist destinations that are famous for being environmentally friendly and rich in identity in Vietnam.
If we do not act promptly, beaches, heritage sites and natural landscapes will become the destination of spontaneous plastic landfills, something no tourist wants to experience.
“Therefore, the establishment of the Vietnam Zero Waste Tourism Network (VZWTN) in Hoi An is a strong step forward, a strategic action, focusing on Vietnam's strengths and the field that generates a lot of disposable plastic waste.
The Pacific Environment Organization Vietnam (PE-VN) will actively accompany the Da Nang Tourism Association and tourism service providers to prevent plastic waste, build and preserve the green destination brand, and ensure sustainable tourism development," said Ms. Xuan.
According to Mr. Cao Tri Dung, interim Chairman of the Da Nang City Tourism Association, not only Hoi An, waste-reducing tourism has now received the common attention of Da Nang tourism, Vietnam as well as the world.
Experts share international experiences on zero-waste tourism trends at the workshop launching the zero-waste tourism network (held in Hoi An on July 9).
In recent times, Hoi An tourism has approached and spread the trend of waste reduction tourism very well. On the side of Da Nang tourism businesses, they also strongly support and respond to this trend in the coming time to contribute to the development of new green and sustainable Da Nang tourism.
Ms. Vu My Hanh, Coordinator of the Program "Businesses reduce waste towards Hoi An - a green destination" said that the results achieved in Hoi An are the result of the cooperation of many stakeholders.
Therefore, if we want to spread this trend more strongly in the new Da Nang space, we need the coordination of 3 subjects, including state management agencies, businesses and the community.
In addition, the support of technical and financial support organizations and solution providers is also needed so that the approach and implementation will be more systematic and effective.
MAINTAINING GREEN TOURISM CRITERIA
Great mark of green tourism in Vietnam
With the orientation of developing sustainable green tourism, in 2021, the People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old) issued the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria Set with 6 areas: hotels, homestays, resorts, travel agencies, community-based tourist attractions, and sightseeing spots. Then in 2024, the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria Set was supplemented with the field of food service establishments.
The People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old) awarded green tourism certificates to units meeting the standards of the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria Set at the 2024 Tourism Business Conference held in Hoi An city.
The Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria Set was developed with the support of the Swiss Tourism Project for Sustainable Tourism Development in Vietnam, Phase 1 (SSTP) and the continued support of the project Phase 2 (ST4SD) based on the reference of 25 Sustainable Tourism Criteria Sets applied internationally and adjusted to suit the actual business conditions in the locality.
After nearly 4 years of implementation, the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria have initially left their mark. To date, 33 businesses and destinations in the old Quang Nam province have been certified to meet the standards of this criteria at 2 levels: 2 Ngoc Linh ginseng leaves and 3 Ngoc Linh ginseng leaves. The units that have been certified have received more or less positive feedback and high appreciation from travel agencies and tourists in the context of green tourism being a global trend.
According to the Quang Nam Tourism Association (formerly), after issuing the Green Tourism Criteria, a number of provinces and cities nationwide with orientations towards developing green and sustainable tourism have actively connected and come to Quang Nam to learn from its experiences in order to apply this set of criteria in their localities.
According to the representative of the Swiss Tourism Project for Sustainable Tourism Development in Vietnam, the unit has recently actively supported the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to recognize the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria as following the global standard guidelines for sustainable tourism and travel to enhance the position of this criteria set.
Towards the pillar of Da Nang tourism
One of the important expectations of the tourism industry after the merger of Quang Nam and Da Nang city is that the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria will continue to be maintained. Mr. Le Quoc Viet, Director of Santa Sea Villa Hoi An Hotel (Hoi An Tay Ward), a unit that has been certified to meet the standards of the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria, said that this is a very good set of criteria, contributing to concretizing the determination to develop green tourism, encouraging sustainable tourism entities, so it is necessary to maintain and spread with a stronger support mechanism in the new Da Nang space. In addition, it is also necessary to consider the consistency with a number of other green tourism criteria nationwide to promote the highest efficiency when applied.
Nui Than Tai hot spring park (Hoa Vang commune).
Mr. Phan Xuan Thanh, former Chairman of the Quang Nam Tourism Association (old) said that the Quang Nam Tourism Association discussed and received strong support from the Da Nang Tourism Association (old) on the proposal for the city to maintain and continue the set of criteria when the two sides held a conference on merging the two associations.
Mr. Cao Tri Dung, interim Chairman of the Da Nang Tourism Association, said that sustainable tourism and green tourism in Quang Nam have been very strong recently, so after discussion, the Da Nang Tourism Association agreed to inherit and develop this field into a pillar in the city's tourism industry.
“Regarding the set of criteria for green tourism in Quang Nam, it will basically inherit the whole set and replicate it for the new city of Da Nang. If necessary, the relevant parties will coordinate to adjust and supplement some contents to suit the local characteristics after the merger. The new Da Nang Tourism Association will also maintain and upgrade the Green Tourism Club (under the old Quang Nam Tourism Association) into the Da Nang Green Tourism Association, registering to join the Vietnam Green Tourism Association,” said Mr. Dung.
Mr. Van Ba Son, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang city, said that the department strongly supports the continued implementation of the Quang Nam Green Tourism Criteria into the new Da Nang city tourism space.
“The Department also proposed that the city allow the unit to continue cooperating with the Swiss sustainable tourism development program to carry out green tourism project activities approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In particular, the Department will preside over and coordinate with localities to participate in survey and assessment activities on the application and practice of green tourism according to the criteria issued by the People's Committee of Quang Nam province (old).
Thereby, continue to coordinate with the Swiss project to upgrade the criteria set for the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC) to issue certificates meeting the requirements of international sustainable tourism standards to apply in some tourist areas and destinations. At the same time, encourage businesses operating in the tourism sector in the city to participate.
The Department will also propose to the City People's Committee to unify the development of a mechanism to support the development of green and sustainable community tourism in Da Nang by 2030," said Mr. Son.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/da-nang-phat-trien-du-lich-xanh-ben-vung-20250716142656198.htm
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