Da Nang introduces criteria for green tourism accommodations

The criteria comprise 219 green standards covering environmental protection, human resources and training, green consumption, visitor experiences, energy efficiency, low-carbon emissions, recycling, biodiversity conservation, native plant species, wastewater management, food safety and the reduction of food waste.

 The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Da Nang, in cooperation with the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development (ST4SD) project, has officially launched Da Nang Green Stay, a set of criteria for green tourism accommodation facilities with the message of green practices – elevating destinations.

The criteria, which draw on standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), have been designed to support the city’s tourism development and its goal of becoming a green, high-quality and sustainable tourism hub in central Vietnam.

The criteria comprise 219 green standards covering environmental protection, human resources and training, green consumption, visitor experiences, energy efficiency, low-carbon emissions, recycling, biodiversity conservation, native plant species, wastewater management, food safety and the reduction of food waste.

The criteria are divided into three voluntary levels based on the size and capacity of each accommodation provider.

Level 1 includes 54 criteria for businesses that are just beginning to adopt green practices, and Level 2 includes 124 criteria for establishments that already have a foundation in green practices, while Level 3 covers all 219 criteria and is aimed at businesses leading in sustainable development.

The criteria focus on three core strategic objectives of protecting ecosystems, preserving cultural heritage, and strengthening destination branding.

Accommodation establishments can benefit from the criteria by reducing energy, water and waste-management costs, while strengthening the destination’s green credentials and improving their competitiveness in attracting a new generation of responsible travellers.

Andri Meier, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Vietnam, said the Da Nang Green Stay Programme provides accommodation establishments with a structured approach to adopting greener practices and makes sustainability an integral part of destination management.

The government of Switzerland is pleased to support this journey through the ST4SD project, he said.

Da Nang’s pioneering adoption of this sustainable tourism management system not only underscores the city’s strategic vision but also sets a new benchmark for Vietnam’s tourism industry, he emphasised

Nguyen Thi Hoai An, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, recalled that the journey towards green tourism practices began with the ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’ campaign on the Cham Islands, off the coast of Hoi An, in 2009.

She said the business community in former Quang Nam province, which has since merged with Da Nang City, went on to establish Hoi An as a green destination in 2019, before a set of provincial green tourism criteria was approved in 2021.

Green practices are becoming a quality standard, a market value and a competitive advantage, she affirmed.

The municipal Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is scheduled to organise a series of in-depth training courses from September to December. It will also publish a practical guidebook and instructional videos to help businesses confidently assess their own performance.

The Da Nang City People’s Committee has approved the green tourism criteria as part of efforts to contribute to the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050./.

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