Digital transformation and green transformation in tourism

Tourists experience the five-gate train, a new tourism product of Hanoi. (Photo: BAO LONG)

If digital transformation can be understood as integrating and applying digital technology to increase management and business efficiency, then green transformation is the effort to achieve sustainable development, responsible for the environment and society.

The Vietnam tourism development strategy to 2030 has affirmed the need to "develop sustainable and inclusive tourism on the basis of green growth" and emphasized the need to "develop tourism in a professional, quality and effective direction; promote the application of achievements of the 4.0 industrial revolution". The Prime Minister's telegram No. 34/CD-TTg on promoting tourism development, ensuring double-digit economic growth, also particularly emphasized the task of accelerating digital transformation and green transformation in tourism development...

Recently, the 12th General Assembly of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Global Cities (TPO 2025) and the High-Level Tourism Forum, which took place within the framework of the Ho Chi Minh City International Travel Expo - ITE HCMC 2025, both chose the theme "Shaping the future of tourism: Towards digital transformation and green transformation".

According to Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh, in the digital era and sustainable development, it is necessary to deeply realize that digital transformation and green transformation are not two separate parallel paths, but are "golden keys", two "strategic pillars" that go together, complement each other, creating a combined strength to create sustainable, modern, humane and culturally-identical tourism development.

Sharing the same view, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung also affirmed: Digital transformation and green transformation in tourism are inevitable action strategies for every country, including Vietnam.

In recent times, many localities, destinations and tourism businesses in Vietnam have proactively applied digital technology and green technology in tourism business, developed smart tourism, thereby forming new models of destinations and tourism products that are attractive and environmentally friendly. Campaigns such as reducing plastic waste in tourism activities, supporting businesses to apply digital technology in management, operation and tourism promotion have been deployed on a large scale. More and more green tours, smart hotels, businesses and destinations are being granted sustainability certification...

However, according to experts, to make further strides in digital and green transformation, Vietnamese tourism needs to overcome many challenges with a comprehensive and synchronous system of solutions. Chairman of the Vietnam Green Tourism Association Phung Quang Thang said that both green transformation and digital transformation require initial investment costs for related technology and infrastructure. This is an undeniable trend, so it requires the participation of all parties. The State plays a guiding role, but businesses must be the pioneering force, along with the response of the local community.

In addition to preferential policies on tax and capital, it is necessary to mobilize a large number of businesses to participate to create a great demand for green conversion, thereby stimulating the production market, helping to reduce the cost of green materials, and reduce investment costs. Mr. Thang also noted that green conversion does not stop at environmental protection but must be associated with preserving and promoting cultural values and bringing practical benefits to the community...

Emphasizing that this is an irreversible trend, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Pham Van Thuy said that a shared digital platform for the tourism industry is being built so that businesses can easily exploit digital data for tourism promotion, and tourists can easily search for information about Vietnam tourism...

Regarding green transformation, Mr. Pham Van Thuy commented that our country has many resources for green tourism, and needs to strengthen the construction of many green tourism products according to market demands to attract tourists.

Recently, in his speech at the High-Level Tourism Forum “Shaping the Future of Tourism: Towards Digital Transformation and Green Transformation”, Deputy Prime Minister Mai Van Chinh affirmed that it is necessary to strongly transform the growth model, taking digital transformation as a driving force to improve service quality, tourist experience and management efficiency; green transformation is the foundation for building a tourism industry in harmony with nature, responsible to the community and the environment.

The Deputy Prime Minister also shared a number of major orientations, including continuing to improve institutions, renewing thinking about tourism development, shifting from the mindset of "growth at all costs" to the mindset of "sustainable development"; strengthening actions and expanding international cooperation towards digital transformation and green transformation; researching and developing a set of principles on digital tourism and green tourism, encouraging countries and businesses to apply them; promoting regional and industry linkages, thereby forming unique, distinctive products with depth and high competitiveness; investing heavily in human resource development; researching and supplementing appropriate mechanisms and policies, encouraging businesses to invest and develop effective tourism business models, prioritizing digital tourism and green tourism models...

TRANG ANH

Source: https://nhandan.vn/chuyen-doi-so-va-chuyen-doi-xanh-trong-du-lich-post913402.html