TRAN DINH LAM, Ph. D Head, Office of International Relations and Research Affairs University of Social Sciences and Huma

1. STRATEGIC PLANNING AND STANDARDS FOR ECOTOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN VIETNAM TRAN DINH LAM, Ph. D Head, Office of International Relations and Research Affairs University of Social Sciences and Humanities Vietnam National University – Hochiminh City

2. Potentials for ecotourism: • Favorable natural conditions • High biodiversity • Cultural historical vestiges • Original cultural characteristics: 54 ethnics • Traditional occupations, festivals, literary works

3. Ecotourism development in Vietnam: A fresh emergence in Tourism Industry: • “Pilot planning study of nature and adventure tourism opportunities in Vietnam” in 1995 • The Master Plan for developing strategies for Vietnam tourism to the year 2010

4. Ecotourism and Vietnamese people: • Initial experience • Perceptible conception • Promising field: increasing number of domestic and foreign ecotourists • Pride in existing natural resources and traditional customs • A chance to access the World

5. “Effective, rational development and exploitation of ecotourism potential will create the conditions for integration into nature, recovery of health, education of tourists and those responsible for preserving natural areas and environment, preservation and development of cultural values of local communities as well as bringing authentic benefits to local people.” (Canh 1998)

6. Orientation for environmental management of ecoutourism areas The managerial board: • A positive enthusiasm and high capacity of confronting obstacles • Construction of favorable infrastructures • Promotional strategies: publishing image of ecotourism on the Internet, magazines • Training courses for local residents and people in the sector; • Service improvement

7. Queen Sirikit’s Botanic Garden • Thailand’s first botanic garden: founded in the early nineteen nineties • Botanical research and conservation conducted here • Scientific management • Ideal place for inquisitive explorers and scientists

8. Participation of host communities : • Management should, ideally, be channeled to host communities that possess ecological resources • Revenues from ecotourism can be equally distributed to participants in the process • Locals should be employed to work as tour guides or staff working in ecolodges adjacent to the reserve. • Awareness raising for locals to maintain their cultural values and natural resources

9. Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Center at Bang Sai, Ayutthaya, Thailand • Under the Royal Patronage of Queen Sirikit • Preserving and promoting traditional professions • Improving living standards for local residents by creating jobs for them • Harboring no dubious commercial purposes

10. Case study 1: The Vam Sat Salty Flooded Forest Ecological Tourism Site, Can Gio, Hochiminh City • About 80-100 local residents are employed permanently or seasonally to serve the Vam Sat ecotourist site • Approximately 7000 visitors are lured to come to Vam Sat yearly, 10% of them are international visitors • Long-term contribution to the environmental sustainability are affirmed

12. Case study 2: Saigon-Binh Chau Ecotourist and Resort, Hochiminh City • 113 out of 155 employees working for this resort are locals • The facilities and properties are built based on the available natural materials: bamboos, tiles and others • Targeting knowledge improvement for visitors and locals on the environmental values and natural preservation

14. Education for Managerial staff Tour guides Local residents Ecotourists

15. Adoption of strict recycling of resources and high standards of hygienic ecolodges: • Using natural materials tosecure environment: bamboo, banana leaves, • Providing biodegradable products to visitors: toiletries, boxes, bags… • Keeping ecolodges clean and ventilated

16. Public – Private partnerships in ecotourism development and promotion • Private sectors now are allowed to take responsibilities and run their own resorts and tourist attractions • The Saigon-Binh Chau Ecotourist and Resort has been formed by the following 9 public and private companies • Vinapearl ecotourist resort and spa, Can Gio biosphere forest are also successful models of Public – private partnership in ecoutourism development

17. Attracting domestic and foreign direct investment in ecotourism development: • FDI projects should be given more priorities: simplifying administrative procedures. • Effective strategies of marketing and advertising should be sketched out and conducted to entice investment • Greater efforts should be made to offer favorable conditions for investors

18. Private sectors, foreign invested institutions, other countries: • Financing responsible conservation efforts. • Building ecolodges and hiring local residents to protect their natural resources • Educating tourism workers, local residents and ecotourists.

19. Marketing strategy for ecotourism in Vietnam:  Publishing information on the Internet, putting ads on newspapers and commercials on TV, etc.… Cooperating with other regional countries in advertising images to the worldOrganizing trans-Asia tours or so to introduce Vietnam ecotourism

20. Education and FDI • People’s awareness and behavior should be raised; • Professional training courses of natural conservations and cultural nourishment should be frequently held for locals and tour guides; • Hospitality and friendliness to visitors should be regarded as crucial features;

21. Education and FDI- Human resources • Administrative staff should be sent to other countries to acquire experience and attend conferences on ecotourism; • Educational cooperation with other regional countries like Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia.. in organizing intensive courses for people in the sector and others • Opening tourist schools and centers to train people for the industry

22. Forging stronger links between regional countries • Offering study tours in transitional Thailand, Campodia and Vietnam: better understanding of ecotourism values • Holding training workshops, projects on ecotourism development: PEMSEA-Gulf of Thailand Projects  Gulf of Thailand Training Workshop on Contingency Planning and Claims Recovery held last 7-11 July 2003

23. The vice chairman of Viet Nam Administration for Tourism, Vu Tuan Canh, stated, "With an annual contribution of US$2 billion to the State budget, tourism plays an increasingly important role in the country’s socio-economic development and has been identified by the State and Party as a leading economic sector." (VNS 2003)

24. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION!