Vietnam responds to climate change for the goal of sustainable tourism development.

The conference was held with technical support from the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme Project (EU-ESRT Project, funded by the European Union).

This symposium, of significant importance to sustainable tourism development, attracted up to 200 delegates, including leaders from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST), leaders and staff from the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, representatives from several provincial Departments of Tourism/MOCST, representatives from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, relevant ministries and agencies, the Ambassador - Head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, tourism donors, relevant international and domestic organizations, representatives from research institutes, universities and several major tourism businesses, and representatives from media agencies in Hanoi.

The conference aims to increase the awareness of international agencies and organizations regarding climate change in relation to tourism, as well as to share best practices on adapting to and responding to climate change in tourism.

Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, delivered a speech at the meeting.

In her opening remarks at the conference, Ms. Dang Thi Bich Lien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, highly appreciated the initiative to organize the conference "Vietnam: Towards Sustainable Tourism in the Era of Climate Change". According to Deputy Minister Dang Thi Bich Lien, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism hopes to continue receiving the assistance, guidance, and active cooperation of the European Union Delegation in Vietnam, relevant ministries and agencies, localities, tourism businesses, training institutions, and other development partners in the process of developing tourism in a sustainable direction."

Mr. Bruno Angelet, Ambassador - Head of the European Union Delegation

Attending the conference as the largest sponsor of Vietnam's tourism industry, Mr. Bruno Angelet, Ambassador and Head of the European Union Delegation, emphasized that climate change is currently a serious issue facing Vietnam, in which both the tourism industry and the European Union play a crucial role in responding to and mitigating the negative impacts of climate change. The EU-ESRT project, funded by the European Union through technical assistance, has helped raise awareness of climate change and its impact on the tourism industry. This awareness is not only about environmental issues but also about the requirements for destination management responsibilities of the Government and the tourism industry, in order to minimize negative impacts and enhance positive ones.

On behalf of the EU-ESRT Project expert team, Professor Peter Burns presented on the current state of climate change response in Vietnam. From the perspective of the tourism sector, provincial/city Departments of Tourism/Culture, Sports and Tourism have… awareness of the risks of climate change, but lack specialized knowledge on adaptation and mitigation. Adaptation measures are often based on individual business responses; for example, a resort might try to do what it can, rather than coordinated collaborative efforts within a comprehensive plan.

Climate change in Kien Giang

Hoi An beach, a scene that could disappear due to climate change.

In its role of coordinating with government partners, the tourism sector needs to define new, decisive, and consistent policies and implement "Green" business practices that link tourism with environmental and climate protection actions. Policy dialogue and learning among stakeholders should also be conducted in parallel with coordinating research and development programs to promote scientific research in the tourism industry. Furthermore, enhanced communication is needed to influence consumer attitudes and expectations regarding environmentally friendly practices while traveling.

Since April 2016, experts from the EU-ESRT Project have been developing the document "Guidelines for Good Practices in Sustainable Tourism Development in the Context of Climate Change in Vietnam." This conference is an opportunity to gather feedback and contributions from partners within and outside the tourism industry, thereby helping to refine the document. Delegates were divided into three groups to discuss ways to adapt to and mitigate the harmful effects of climate change, as well as to communicate this topic, with each activity corresponding to the responsibilities of state management agencies, businesses, and local communities.

Also within the framework of the conference, the Institute for Tourism Development Research (under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) and the Institute for Strategy, Policy and Resources and Environment (under the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment) signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in the fields of tourism and climate change. The goal of this cooperation is to establish a basis for coordinated action between the tourism sector and climate change for the sustainable development of the tourism industry and effective response to climate change in Vietnam. The main areas of cooperation include: exchanging experiences, providing support and cooperation in integrating climate change into tourism development strategies; updating and implementing action plans to respond to climate change; implementing programs and projects related to climate change; and capacity building and communication activities to raise awareness about climate change among relevant stakeholders in the tourism industry.

The Thanh