A seminar on environment and sustainable tourism development took place in Quy Nhon city several weeks ago. Participants presented many reports on bad state of affairs and measures for the environment protection and sustainable tourism development.
 |
|
At the seminar. Photo N.V
|
Vice Chief of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Office, Nguyen Ba Con:
The environment protection has become a global issue in recent years, particularly the climate change. According to UNDP’s human development report 2008, about 22 million Vietnamese people will lose their houses and 45 percent of cultivated land in Mekong Delta will be flooded if the temperature of the Earth increases by 2 degrees Celsius.
The climate change may pose five risks, including agricultural capacity reduction, shortage of water, extreme weather, broken ecosystem, and the increase of diseases.
The consequences of climate change will affect not only the country’s socio-economic development but tourism-related issues, such as tourism resources, infrastructure for tourism, and other services.
Tourism and environment are closely related to each other. The environment protection, therefore, requires the whole community and bodies of all levels through different effective measures.
The tourism environment is still problematic, particularly at tourism sites. Many tourists have still complained about troublesome matters at destinations nationwide.
Each tourism destination has its own natural conditions, historical and cultural traditions and custom which must be remained intact. Preserving the tourism resources is to protect the environment and this requires the role of local authorities and communities.
Vice director of Binh Dinh Department of Culture, Sport, and Tourism, Nguyen Thanh Son:
The environment protection is one of urgent issues requiring the participation of the whole society and all bodies. The environment protection plays, thus, a core role in the tourism sector because the environment is an important factor affecting tourism services and sustainable tourism development.
Binh Dinh’s tourism development program has reaped encouraging achievements so far; however, the province’s industrialization and urbanization process has partly affected the tourism development.
Many activities have been held, aimed at raising the community’s awareness of the environment protection. Also, relevant bodies coordinated with local authorities to monitor the environment pollution in the field of tourism.
All people are required to join the environment protection. The province’s bodies need to closely cooperate with each other to solve environment-related issues.
Director of Relic Management Board, Dang Huu Tho:
Historical and cultural relics are a part of Vietnam’s cultural heritage. The relic preservation and restoration in Binh Dinh proved effective. Among 231 relics listed, 88 were ranked as relics of national magnitude and 55 were of provincial magnitude.
Many of them became the most attractive destinations after being restored and upgraded, such as Quang Trung Museum, Ham Ho tourism site, Ghenh Rang, and Cham towers. They have contributed to attract more and more tourists to visit Binh Dinh.
Raising the tourists’ awareness of environment protection, preventing violation against historical and cultural relics, and following regulations on environment protection are necessary to better preserve historial and cultural relics.
| 
