UNESCO, ILO, FAO Assist Vietnam in Sustainable Tourism Development

The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the International Organization (ILO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are jointly holding a workshop in Vietnam’s central province of Quang Nam today to discuss the challenges in the country’s sustainable tourism development.During the two-day event, domestic and foreign experts will share experience in the field and discuss measures to promote sustainable tourism in the country.Notably, the participants will consider building the country’s brand for community friendly products and developing tourist information centers.They also suggested that Vietnam should develop a clear, transparent, suitable and responsible tourism certification system to ensure the program’s success. The certification should be considered as a standard tool to improve the quality of community-based and ecological tourist products.Katherine Muller-Marin, a UNESCO representative, proposed that the local government take bold measures to ensure that “tourism benefits can also be reinvested to preserve heritage sites.”The concept of a sustainable tourism industry, first introduced in the national tourism development strategy three years ago, aims to maximize the economic, social and environmental benefits of tourism while minimizing the costs to destinations.Vietnam is, however, warned of the threat of mass tourism, which has led to pollution and an over-exploitation of natural and cultural resources, experts said.Tourism continues to grow strongly in Vietnam with the total number of foreign tourist arrivals reaching 5.35 million during the first ten months of this year, up 13% on year despite the global economic slowdown.The country aims to welcome 6.5 million foreign travelers in 2012, up 8.3% against 2011, and to earn revenues of VND150 trillion. (Tien Phong – Pioneer Nov 22 p2)