Integrating ecotourism into environmental protection

Nowadays, tourism has become one of important sectors bringing revenues and jobs to economies. Tourism development is considered as one of the top priority policies of the governments. However, uncontrolled development will also bring negative effects, including environmental pollution.

Eco-tourist product is now a main trend of many countries because of its friendliness with environment. Viet Nam has favorable conditions to develop environmentally friendly tourist products with 2.3 million ha of special-use forest with beautiful landscapes, plentiful flora and fauna system, diverse ecosystems and specific cultural, historic and spiritual relics,​​ offering grand potential to develop ecological, leisure and scientific research tourist products.

Specially, over 3,200 km of coastline from the North to the South shaped about 125 beautiful beaches like Tra Co, Sam Son, Cua Lo, Nha Trang, Mui Ne, Vung Tau... and lush gardens with fruit specialties of the Mekong delta will bring good chances for ecotourism development in the country.

But its diverse and abundant tourism resources are facing with serious issues such as deforestation, hunting, uncontrolled exploitation... Some coastal areas have not applied wastewater treatment technologies leading to marine pollution. The lack of authorities’ management in mine and chemical using for fishing and exploiting marine resources also caused serious unbalance for marine ecosystems. 

Everyday, there is a large number of tourists visiting famous eco-tourist attractions such as Cuc Phuong, Phong Nha – Ke Bang, Cat Tien and Bai Chay…while its infrastructure systems are not sufficient for tourist demands resulting in overloading, insanitariness and environmental pollution.

Therefore, it is necessary to promulgate mechanisms and policies to develop environmentally friendly eco-tourist products. This will bring about a legal framework for eco-tourism activities to strictly manage natural resources.

Moreover, environmental protection is not only social responsibility of tourists and local communities but also of travel businesses and authorities which could be strengthened through environmental protection campaigns and propagandizing activities…

For above reasons, integrating ecotourism into environmental conservation with the participation of local communities will contribute to environmental improvement, creating jobs and poverty-alleviation reduction as well as help to raise people’s awareness of natural resource conservation and environmental protection aiming to ensure long-term and sustainable livelihood of localities.

Translated by Thanh Pham (TITC)