Ha Long forum seeks to promote green economy, tourism

The event on June 23 and 24 is organised by the Quang Ninh provincial Department of Tourism and the institute for communication and cultural studies under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

It attracted about 200 participants, including officials of the culture, environment and foreign ministries, domestic and foreign economic experts, and businesses in the tourism industry.

They discussed policies for sustainably developing economy and tourism, solutions to develop green economy and tourism, Japan’s experience in the field, support for small-and medium-sized enterprises to use green production technologies, and investors and businesses’ role in developing green tourism sustainably.

Le Doan Hop, Director of the institute for communication and cultural studies, said green tourism helps protect the nature and culture. The development of green tourism has been generating enormous economic benefits and creating chances to increase jobs and income for local communities, especially in remote areas which are home to nature reserves and attractive landscapes.

Green tourism has also helped improve people’s knowledge and health through environmental, cultural, historical and leisure activities, he added. Other participants highlighted the need to use natural resources reasonably, reduce waste from tourism activities, apply environmentally friendly technologies in creating tourism products, and prioritise eco-tourism.

They also looked into effective solutions to promote green economic and tourism development amid globalisation.

At the forum, the organising board is set to honour the outstanding groups and persons in economic and tourism development. Participants will also tour some green economic-tourism sites in Quang Ninh province.

The event is an activity in response to the National Tourism Year 2018, which centres on Quang Ninh and its Ha Long city.