Representatives of Đà Nẵng City and the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development (ST4SD) project join a launching ceremony of the ‘Danang Green Stay Criteria’ in building ‘green’ brand tourism in the beach hub. Photo courtesy of Hương Liên

ĐÀ NẴNG –  Đà Nẵng City's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in cooperation with the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development (ST4SD) project, has officially launched the ‘Đà Nẵng Green Stay Criteria’, marking a positive step towards building the coastal city’s green tourism brand.

The criteria, which draw on standards set by the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), have been designed to support the city’s tourism development and its goal of becoming a green, high-quality and sustainable tourism hub in central Việt Nam.

A material recovery facility is introduced at a popular tourist destination in Đà Nẵng. The city, in cooperation with the Swiss Tourism for Sustainable Development (ST4SD) project, has launched the ‘Danang Green Stay Criteria’ to promote sustainable tourism. VNS Photo Công Thành

The criteria comprise 219 green standards covering environmental protection, human resources and training, green consumption, visitor experiences, energy efficiency, low-carbon emissions, recycling, biodiversity conservation, native plant species, wastewater management, food safety and the reduction of food waste.

Accommodation establishments can benefit from the criteria by reducing energy, water and waste-management costs, while strengthening the destination’s green credentials and improving their competitiveness in attracting a new generation of responsible travellers.

Andri Meier, Deputy Head of Cooperation at the Embassy of Switzerland in Việt Nam, said the ‘Danang Green Stay Programme’ provides accommodation establishments with a structured approach to adopting greener practices and makes sustainability an integral part of destination management.

A reuseble shopping bag is made from recycled material. Hội An and Đà Nẵng have been promoting the sustainable development in tourism sector and low carbon emission service. VNS Photo Công Thành

“Switzerland is pleased to support this journey through the ST4SD project. Today’s launch is an important milestone, but the real work begins with implementation: supporting businesses in applying the criteria, building capacity, measuring progress and continuously improving,” he emphasised.

“I encourage all participating businesses to see ‘Green Stay’ not as an additional requirement, but as an opportunity to improve efficiency, strengthen service quality, engage communities and position Đà Nẵng as a leading sustainable tourism destination,” he added.

“Switzerland is proud to share its strengths and practical experience gained through the Swisstainable model. World-class service quality goes hand in hand with environmental and community responsibility,” he continued.

“Đà Nẵng’s pioneering adoption of this sustainable tourism management system not only underscores the city’s strategic vision but also sets a new benchmark for Việt Nam’s tourism industry. We are confident that ‘Danang Green Stay’ will clearly demonstrate that green practices are key to enhancing destinations, supporting business growth and securing a sustainable competitive advantage in the global tourism market.”

Nguyễn Thị Hoài An, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, recalled that the journey towards green tourism practices began with the ‘Say No to Plastic Bags’ campaign on the Chàm Islands, off the coast of Hội An, in 2009.

She said the business community in the former Quảng Nam Province, which has since merged with Đà Nẵng City, went on to establish Hội An as a green destination in 2019, before a set of provincial green tourism criteria was approved in 2021.

Visitors explore a wood sculpture workshop in Hội An Ancient Town, Đà Nẵng. The town has successfully adopted sustainable tourism practices, including recycling, low-carbon accommodation, environmentally friendly consumption and smart transport. Photo courtesy of Củi Lũ Workshop

“Đà Nẵng has well-developed tourism infrastructure, with more than 2,400 hotels and resorts offering a total of 67,000 rooms. However, this also poses a major challenge because of the large amounts of energy, water and food consumed, as well as emissions generated by accommodation facilities,” An warned.

A waste-sorting bin in Hội An Ancient Town collects plastic waste generated by residents and tourists. The destination has been promoting waste recycling, plastic waste reduction and low-carbon transport. VNS Photo Công Thành

“A single hotel may make only a small change by adopting the newly launched green standards, but thousands of accommodation establishments working together to reduce energy and water consumption, eliminate single-use plastics, recycle waste and adopt low-emission practices would create a significant driving force for sustainable tourism growth,” she said.

The Đà Nẵng City People’s Committee has approved the green tourism criteria as part of efforts to contribute to the country’s commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, she added. VNS