(TITC) - On 16th February, in Ha Noi, the Vietnam Tourism Association, the Institute of Strategy, Policy on Natural Resources and Environment, and the UN Development Program (UNDP) in Vietnam jointly kicked off the project Reducing plastic waste in Vietnam tourism sector. Mr. Ha Van Sieu, Vice Chairman of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) attended and spoke at the event.
VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu speaking at the ceremony (Photo: TITC)
Plastic pollution has become one of the most pressing environmental issues, causing harmful impacts to the environment, especially the marine environment. In recent years, the growth of the tourism industry has contributed to economic restructuring and contributed to the overall growth of the whole economy. However, the activities of visitors have added an amount of plastic waste to the environment.
Acknowledging the problem, the Vietnam Tourism Association has actively mobilised resources in order to support its member businesses to resolve the issue by proposing the project towards the goal of reducing plastic waste that blights the tourism industry. The project has received funding by the UNDP for implementation in the 2023 - 2024 period, contributing to environmental protection and tourism development in order to achieve the sustainable development goals of the tourism industry.
Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association speaking at the ceremony (Photo: TITC)
Accordingly, the project Reducing plastic waste in Vietnam tourism sector aims to promote activities in reducing plastic waste in the tourism sector, contributes in protecting the environment, develop a sustainable tourism industry, as well as develop a sustainable economy of the nation.
The project is implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, Quang Nam Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Ninh Binh Tourism Association, Quang Nam Tourism Association, and the authorities of communes where implement the project.
The project is implemented from 1st January 2023 to 30th June 2024, including 3 components: Communication to raise awareness on reducing plastic waste in the tourism sector; Pilot application of solutions and initiatives to reduce plastic waste in a number of tourist sites and attractions in Ninh Binh and Quang Nam provinces; Develop an action plan to reduce plastic waste in the tourism industry and application (app) to manage plastic waste for tourism businesses.
Delegates attending the ceremony (Photo: TITC)
Giving his remarks at the ceremony, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu said, in recent years, the growth rate of the tourism industry has partially shifted the economic structure and added to the common growth of the economy. In Vietnam's tourism development strategy, tourism development is always associated with environmental protection, considering environmental quality as an attractive factor of tourism.
Communication work will be stepped up to raise awareness of sectors, businesses, people and tourists; and solutions and initiatives to reduce plastic waste will be piloted in some restaurants, hotels, resorts and tourist attractions in Ninh Binh and Quang Nam provinces, and then will be applied nationwide.
Showing his gratitude towards the supportive of UNDP in environmental protection projects, VNAT’s Vice Chairman Ha Van Sieu stressed, VNAT will hand in hand with the Vietnam Tourism Association and UNDP to implement the project, creating positive changes in the tourism environment, green and sustainable tourism development.
Overview of the ceremony (Photo: TITC)
According to Mr. Vu The Binh, Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, the project's goal is to target people who produce plastic waste, for instance, the business people operating in the field of tourism… Since plastic waste is a visible object, it is easy to reflect, directly affecting the income of the tourism industry. The first and foremost mission at the moment is to promote communication, raise people’s awareness, and change the behaviours to reduce the plastic waste in tourism. The pilots in Quang Nam and Ninh Binh raise the hope to implement the project entirely in the rest of the locals of Vietnam.
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