{"id":7696,"date":"2023-02-17T17:10:12","date_gmt":"2023-02-17T09:10:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sedgwick-richardson.com\/views\/sustainable-tourism-branding\/"},"modified":"2026-06-14T13:15:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-14T05:15:01","slug":"sustainable-tourism-branding","status":"publish","type":"cpt-views","link":"https:\/\/www.sedgwick-richardson.com\/zh\/views\/sustainable-tourism-branding\/","title":{"rendered":"Sustainable Tourism + Branding"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After more than a two-year hiatus, Ho Chi Minh City\u2019s iconic Ben Thanh market has come back to life. The once familiar sight of tourists and travellers is returning, no doubt to the relief of many tenants as well as hotel operators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But the world has since changed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sustainability is becoming a major topic of interest and concern for cities and countries worldwide. Issues such as mistreatment of tourism waste, overcrowding, and overtourism challenge the existing paradigms of tourism. They threaten the reputability of the industry for locals and tourists. As such, there is systemic change across the board, spurring responsible travel and the rise of sustainable tourism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the reality facing Vietnam today. There is major cause for change since Vietnam finished in the bottom five of a global sustainable tourism ranking, placing 96th<\/sup> out of 99 countries, according to Euromonitor International<\/a>. The country lagged behind other <\/strong>Southeast Asian neighbours like Laos (#51), Myanmar (#59), and Cambodia (#74) according to another research paper<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Does Vietnam\u2019s tourism and hospitality sector find itself at something of a crossroads and can it reinvent itself for a sustainable future?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tourism as a sustainable economic opportunity<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Vietnam was beset with various sustainability challenges such as plastic waste at popular destinations. About 13 million tons of plastic is released into the ocean per year based on reported findings<\/a>.<\/a> Meanwhile, remote ethnic groups are subject to exploitation by private logging and private development interests. Sapa<\/a> was one such places where beautiful rice terraces and mountainous ranges turned into a perpetual construction site clouded by dust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tourism cannot be viewed merely as a tool to boost the economy. There are evident consequences of blindly allowing visitors into the country without regulation. It has caused a strain on the environment, society, and infrastructure. Though, it is not the sole reason for blame. Lack of government policy governing tourist behaviour and conduct, education on sustainability among local communities, and sustainable options on packaging and services all contribute to a worsening situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sites and signs of optimism<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

But there is hope. Surveys<\/a> reveal that demand for sustainable tourism is a growing trend. 79% of holidaymakers responded that \u201ceveryone must act now to protect the planet for future generations\u201d. A few destinations already implemented their own sustainability policies in their operations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n