Sustainable Tourism: Observations from Vietnam

Dr. Joachim H. Spangenberg, Biodiversity and SPAC, Belgrade 9.10. 07

Sustainable TourismObservations from Vietnam

Joachim H. Spangenberg

UFZ Helmholtz Centre for Environment Research, Dept. Community Ecology, Halle/SaaleJoachim.Spangenberg [at] ufz.de or [at] gmail.com, Vorsterstr. 97-99, 51103 Köln, Germany, Tel. +49-221-2168-94

Presentation at the Lao Cai Tourism Conference “Preserving the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities associated withdevelopment of sustainable tourism products in the context of globalization” Sa Pa, Lao Cai, Vietnam, November 1st, 2013


The Sustainability Definition


“Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts two key concepts: …


(definition cont.)

1. The concept of “needs” in particular the essential needs of the world’s poor, to which overriding priority should be given, and2. The idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organisation on the environment’s ability to meet present and future needs.”(WCED 1987, p.43)


Conclusion

1. Sustainable tourism must contribute to eradicating poverty in Lao Cai, in particular amongst the ethnic minorities. Beyond monetary poverty, this includes preservation of their cultural heritage.

2. Sustainable tourism must respect limits of the environment’s ability to continuously provide ecosystem services.


Current Tourism in Vietnam


1. Tourism is a large and growing business sector in Vietnam, with state and private agents involved.

2. So far, most tourism is domestic (e.g. Vietnamese visitors to the Kinh cultural heritage in Hai Duong province).

3. This kind of tourism redistributes money within Vietnam – a beneficial effect for relatively poor provinces like Lao Cai.

4. However, it does not create income for Vietnam, and little foreign income here.


Where do tourists go?


Conclusion

1. Combatting poverty by increasing the number of tourists faces environmental, cultural and logistic limits.

2. Increasing income with limited growth in numbers requires more income per visitor.

3. Foreign tourists (often European) spend more than domestic tourists.

4. Attracting them and making them stay a number of days is a promising strategy.


Why Lao Cai? Competing provinces


1. Hanoi and HCMC attract visitors with buzzing city life.

2. Tien Giang offers floating villages, bike tours and the impressive Mekong.

3. Hai Duong has ancient palaces, temples, and historical places of worshipping.

4. Vinh Phuc offers exclusive tourist resorts, transport infrastructure and wildlife.

5. Lao Cai has no city night life, no big river, limited historical places/temples, no easy transport infrastructure. Alternatives and improvements are both necessary.


The Lao Cai competitive edges

…and experience in tourism.

Lao Cai has tradition…



Hanoi has ethnic groups in the museum, Lao Cai hasthem in the fields.



The cultural diversity is an attraction. Tourism must be an additional, not the only income to not disturb development & culture.



Besides nature & culture, Lao Cai has rice terraces. In Ifugao/Philippines, they are the main attraction.


What to avoid

Pollution: city lakein Hai Duong.

Cheap souvenirs: Laosimports in Tien Giang.

Housing without style and comfort in Sa Pa.


What to offer

Clean fruit (Mekong). Good food (Sa Pa).

Local quality products.Hospitality (Sa Pa).

Public sweets produc-tion in TienGiang


Whom to attract?


People who bring money, but respect the cultural and natural heritage.

Old enough to be professionally successful – no focus on backpackers and hikers.

Such people have higher demands the infrastructure must correspond to that.

Accomodation, accessibility, authenticity, environmental performance all count.


Conditions of success 1

Peace. After a century of wars, the relics become a part of the provincial heritage.Access.A new motorway will be full of lorries – put them on the rail!Authenticity.Learning requires experiencing the original, including cooking together, field work,…


Peace! Access?

Authenticity!? Sustainability?!


Conditions of success 2Combat poverty. The lion’s share of gains should go to local peasants – they provide the attractions.Compensate those doing the work.Tourism business is free riding on the work of farmers in rice terraces. Compensation regimes are necessary to avoid polarisation.Preserve cultures (but do not try to freeze them) by making it possible to lead a decent life while preserving the cultural heritage.


Conditions of success 3

Greening tourism. Ecotourists do not only want to see nature, they want their visit to be environmentally benign: accomodation, food & transport.Sustainable agriculture.Ecological engineering / biocontrol management can avoide chemical inputs, save time and money, and enhance tourist attractiveness without lowering harvest.


Conclusion 1Ethno tourists want to learn about minority cultures. That includes visits, homestays, fieldwork, souvenirs,

but also quality information. They want to see real life, no fabricated settlements.


Conclusion 2Eco-tourists want to enjoy landscape and biodiversity. That includes Fansipan, nature parks, terraces

but also an environ-mentally qualified organisation (local food, green trans-port &

d ti )


Conclusion 3 Marketing must be improved to make Lao Cai a destiny of choice. This requires integrated programmes for longer

stays, but also qualified guides and learning opportunities.


Conclusion 4 Private business can offer many things rapidly and efficiently

But public planning sets the conditions of

success.

Partnership helps


www.legato-project.net

Thank you for your attention!

Sustainable Tourism: Observations from Vietnam

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