Dak Lak: Building a green tourism brand

VTV.vn - Dak Lak - the land of converging mountains and blue seas is considered a "gold mine" for creating a green tourism brand.

Dak Lak: Building green tourism brand.

The tourism industry is facing the need for strong transformation for sustainable development, and Dak Lak - the land where both the great forest and the blue sea converge - is considered a "gold mine" to create a green tourism brand.

Tourism - a smokeless industry but not necessarily "clean"

Tourism has proven its great power in global socio -economic development. In 2024, this industry contributed about 11,100 billion USD to the world GDP, creating more than 348 million jobs. In Vietnam, tourism contributes over 7% of GDP, with nearly 6 million workers participating. However, behind the impressive numbers is increasing environmental pressure: tourism accounts for up to 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, while plastic waste at destinations increased by more than 35% in just a decade.

Green tourism is no longer an option but an inevitable trend.

The consequences of pollution and infrastructure overload in Sa Pa, Ha Long or Da Lat have become a warning for the entire industry. Therefore, green tourism is no longer an option but an inevitable trend. Many countries in the world have pioneered: Japan with green hotels using 90% renewable energy, Thailand reduced energy consumption in hotels by 30% thanks to the development of eco-tourism. Vietnam is also recording positive changes, with about 60% of travel businesses applying sustainable models, revenue from green tourism accounting for 20% of the entire industry.

Green "gold mine" of Dak Lak

In that picture, Dak Lak emerges as a destination with great potential. Located in the center of the Central Coast - Central Highlands, Dak Lak possesses a diverse ecosystem: Yok Don National Park of over 115,000 hectares - the only place where wild elephants still live, Ea So conservation area of ​​26,848 hectares with many rare species, Lak Lake, Dray Nur waterfall, Dray Sap and endless coffee forests.

In particular, after the merger, Dak Lak also owns a 189 km long coastline with pristine bays and islands, creating a unique advantage in developing sustainable sea-forest tourism. If in the past international tourists called this place "the green door of the Central Highlands", now Dak Lak is also the "gateway to the East Sea".

After the merger, Dak Lak owns an additional long coastline with pristine bays and islands, creating an advantage.

In the period 2021 - 2025, Dak Lak province (before the merger) welcomed an average of 4.08 million visitors/year, with revenue reaching 6,463 billion VND. This number promises to be even higher if the green tourism orientation is properly implemented after the merger.

Brand building strategy

The draft Political Report submitted to the 18th Provincial Party Congress (term 2025 - 2030) determined: focusing on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector, associated with cultural and ecological conservation and ensuring national defense and security. Key products include: marine and forest ecotourism in national parks, conservation areas, bays and islands, resort tourism, community tourism, agriculture; visiting historical, revolutionary, festival and spiritual sites.

Developing tourism associated with cultural and ecological conservation. Photo: Dak Lak Provincial Culture and Tourism Center

The locality prioritizes attracting investment in national and international highlights such as Xuan Dai Bay, Ganh Da Dia, Vung Ro Bay, and developing Yok Don, Lak Lake, and Van Hoa Plateau into large-scale tourist areas. At the same time, Dak Lak aims to develop human resources and improve digital skills for the community, so that people can directly participate and benefit from the green tourism development process.

People can directly participate and benefit from the green tourism development process.

With the harmonious combination of pristine nature, unique indigenous culture and sustainable development strategy, Dak Lak has a full foundation to become a typical green tourism brand of Vietnam. Not only stopping at attracting visitors, this is also a way for Dak Lak to protect the environment, preserve heritage, and at the same time affirm its position on the international tourism map.

Source: https://vtv.vn/dak-lak-xay-dung-thuong-hieu-du-lich-xanh-100251004141938563.htm