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1. What is sustainable tourism?
According to the concept of sustainable tourism outlined by the World Tourism Organization (WTO) at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro in 1992:
Sustainable tourism is the development of tourism activities to meet the current needs of tourists while considering the well-being of local communities and preserving and enhancing resources for future tourism development. It involves managing resources to satisfy economic, social, and aesthetic needs of people while maintaining integrity in terms of culture, biodiversity, ecosystem development, and support systems for human life.
In simpler terms, sustainable tourism is about minimizing costs and maximizing the benefits of tourism for the natural environment and local communities. It is a long-term approach that does not negatively impact the ecological resources upon which tourism depends.
2. Factors of sustainable tourism
2.1. Environmental Aspects
Sustainable tourism aims to preserve precious natural resources by optimizing the use of environmental resources. It also seeks to minimize impacts on the environment, including wildlife, ecosystems, livelihoods, energy consumption, and pollution.
Sustainable tourism ensures the preservation of nature and environmental protection. Image: Collection
2.2. Cultural and Social Aspects
Sustainable tourism avoids causing harm to the social structures or culture of the community where tourism activities take place. Instead, it emphasizes respecting the authenticity of social and cultural aspects of local communities, preserving cultural heritage, and upholding traditional values.
Preserving local culture and traditional values. Image: Collection
Encourage stakeholders (individuals, communities, program operators, and government authorities) at all stages of planning, development, and monitoring to understand their roles through education.
2.3. Economic Aspects
Sustainable tourism ensures long-term economic viability, contributing economically to the community and generating income for all beneficiaries, distributed fairly. This includes stable employment opportunities, profit-sharing, and social services for local communities, contributing to poverty reduction and hunger alleviation.
Ensuring local economic stability. Image: Collection
3. Objectives of Sustainable Tourism
Environmental Protection: Manage the use of natural resources to not only meet current needs but also ensure the development of tourism in the future. During tourism development, minimize environmental impacts and contribute to resource conservation efforts. Maintain and enhance the quality of landscapes, both in rural and urban areas, preventing environmental degradation.
Preserve Cultural Values: Respect and enhance the values of historical heritage, cultural diversity, traditions, and unique characteristics of local communities at tourist destinations.
Efficient Use of Resources: Resources, including nature, human resources, and culture, should be exploited and used sensibly to serve the sustainable and long-term development of the tourism industry.
Sustainable tourism involves knowing how to judiciously use available resources. Image: Collection
Economic efficiency: Ensure economic efficiency and competitiveness for businesses and tourist spots to sustain long-term development and profitability.
Meeting tourist satisfaction: Provide safe, high-quality services that maximally satisfy the needs of travelers.
Local development: Maximize the contribution of tourists and tourism activities to the local economic development at tourist destinations and areas.
Generate employment and enhance income levels: Increase both the quantity and quality of local employment opportunities created by tourism activities.
Social well-being: Sustain and improve the quality of life for local residents, including the structure of social organizations and approaches to resources, support systems, preventing environmental and social degradation in all forms.
Types of sustainable tourism
Community-based tourism
Community tourism is often understood as the engagement of a local community in tourism, or in other words, a form of tourism where the local community participates in the supply chain and management of tourism. This type of tourism is developed based on the culture of the community, managed and operated by the local residents.
Community tourism brings benefits to the community in terms of preserving resources and heritage. Image: Collection
In the form of community tourism, local residents invite tourists to their community, provide accommodations, and create conditions for tourists to experience the everyday life of indigenous people with authentic local activities and traditional cuisine. This not only helps tourists explore and learn about their own cultural values but also allows them to generate income as land managers, entrepreneurs, service providers, producers, or employees. Moreover, the revenue from tourist expenditures is used to benefit the community in preserving resources and heritage while assisting local residents in maintaining a simple way of life.
Ecotourism
This is a form of tourism based on nature, intertwined with the local cultural identity, involving community participation for sustainable development. Visitors will explore the local cultural and social essence while being mindful of environmental issues in the area.
Ecotourism provides tourists not only with unique experiences and discoveries of nature but also enhances understanding and awareness of actively protecting the natural environment. It elevates the importance of natural values and fosters a deeper understanding of the reciprocal relationship between ecosystems and human quality of life.
Ecotourism enhances understanding and awareness of protecting the natural environment. Image: Collection
Furthermore, with effective management practices, ecotourism contributes to the conservation of natural resources, creates employment opportunities, and improves income for local residents. Especially in underdeveloped areas possessing unique natural landscapes, there is significant potential for the development of ecotourism. Environmentally friendly ecotourism reduces pressure on the environment, establishing a foundation for sustainable development while ensuring benefits for both humanity and nature.
Volunteer tourism
Volunteer tourism combines sightseeing, relaxation, and exploration with charitable and volunteer activities such as environmental protection, disaster prevention and recovery, contributing resources to sustain educational activities, or building infrastructure like schools and housing. This means that participants in the journey are both tourists and volunteers.
With such characteristics, destinations for volunteer tourism often include areas with advantages in local beauty and culture, coupled with challenges in daily life, underdeveloped tourism, or cities damaged by natural disasters.
Volunteer tourism contributes to economic development, enhances environmental awareness, preserves the natural and cultural values of the local area. Image: Collection
Volunteer tourism activities contribute positively to the development of local economies, mobilizing resources from individuals, groups, and organizations to support the improvement of infrastructure, attract investment in the region's tourism, create employment opportunities for locals, and alleviate the burden on the state budget. Additionally, participating in volunteer tourism helps communities enhance their quality of life, raise awareness of environmental protection, preserve natural landscapes, conserve biodiversity, and recognize their role in preserving local natural and cultural values.
Alongside the growth of the tourism industry, sustainable tourism has gradually become the core today. Sustainable tourism undoubtedly brings you amazing experiences, allowing you to travel while making a significant contribution to the conservation of nature and the preservation of the traditional values of ethnic groups.
