Vietnam promotes green tourism with plastic waste reduction initiatives

HCM City, Vietnam, 6th September, 2024 (WAM) -- Several coastal and island localities in Vietnam have developed strategies and action plans to raise environmental awareness and promote sustainable tourism, including implementing measures to reduce plastic waste.

According to the Vietnam News Agency (VNA), the Vietnam tourism system planning scheme for the 2021-2030 period defines coastal and island tourism as one of the main product lines.

By 2030, all tourist areas, accommodation establishments, and other coastal service businesses are expected to eliminate the use of single-use plastic products and non-biodegradable plastic bags.

Phu Quoc, a famous tourist destination in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang, attracts about 5.5 million visitors annually. According to the municipal authorities, the city aims to completely ban single-use plastic products in coastal tourist areas and by night market vendors by 2025. Moreover, by the time, 80% of the areas within the Phu Quoc marine protected area will be free of plastic waste.

Similarly, Con Dao district in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau has implemented a 2022-2025 project on research and application of circular economy models for sustainable socio-economic development.