Con Dao, a popular island destination off Ba Ria - Vung Tau Province in southern Vietnam, has set ambitious goals of making its tourism economy carbon-zero in the years to come, said a local tourism official.

The island district has received the green light from provincial authorities for a project to develop a circular economy in tourism, Trinh Hang, director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said on the sidelines of a tourism-related conference held on Thursday.

The project is expected to unleash tourism potential as well as address tourism-related challenges of the island in an attempt to balance the environment and local economy in the long run, Hang elaborated.

Under the project, Con Dao plans to create and promote travel products and services dedicated to high-spending tourists, culture and history enthusiasts, and nature lovers.

The official suggested that businesses in the field design more adventure tours to unlock the tourism potential of the Con Dao National Park.

Visitors to Con Dao can explore a wide selection of tours and services in terms of cultural, spiritual, historic, and eco tourism, with the adoption of digital technology, according to Chu Hong Minh, vice-president of the Con Dao Tourism Association.

Plenty of the tours and services are favored by both domestic and international tourists, such as tours to explore the natural stunning beauty of the island, watch sea turtles lay eggs at night, release turtles into the sea, go diving and admire coral reefs.

Thanks to the active participation of the islanders in community-based tourism, visitors to Con Dao will have a chance of experiencing daily activities of the locals, Minh said.

The greenness and peaceful life along with its fresh air make Con Dao a captivating destination, according to businesses in the industry.

These companies believed that the island boasts many aspects to develop green and sustainable tourism.

The tourism authority in Con Dao seeks to trial the use of renewable energy at local resorts and tourist sites. Photo: H.K. / Tuoi Tre

Speaking at the event, a representative from Saigontourist Travel Service Company, a subsidiary of Vietnam’s leading tourism corporation Saigontourist Group, underlined the need to balance the rising number of visitors to the island and the volume of waste discharged into the environment by the tourism sector.

The Saigontourist representative suggested that Con Dao make further investment in infrastructure facilities to keep the island always green and clean.

Commenting on the issue, Hang stressed the importance of raising awareness about net-zero emissions among industry stakeholders, including tourism service providers, tourists, and local inhabitants.

Hang added that Con Dao would be able to develop sustainable tourism with low carbon emissions in the near future.

During the first half of 2024, the island district of Con Dao has served more than 396,000 visitor arrivals and booked over VND1.5 trillion (US$58.9 million) in tourism revenue, surging over 102 percent and nearly 105 percent over the same period last year, respectively.

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