The 'long haul' revolution
Many people living in the developed world feel drawn to visit the
world’s great wildernesses and cultures. They look for unspoilt
lands to view the wildlife, experience traditional cultures or simply
savour the peace and beauty of wide-open spaces. They seek new experiences
and a wider understanding of the world we share, and are prepared
to travel the world to find them.
Unfortunately, the growth of tourism threatens
the fragile beauty of these areas. All things remaining more or
less equal, it’s estimated that more than a billion tourists will
be travelling the planet in search of paradise by the year 2010.
Such explosive growth will have a profound impact
upon on environments and cultures. Unless we can protect delicate
eco-systems and civilisations that are already struggling for survival,
paradise will be lost forever.
Vietnam tourism
At present, the direct impact of Vietnam
tourism has been limited to a few areas, but
indirectly, the presence of large numbers of visitors is causing
damage. In a poor country, the obvious wealth of people from developed
countries is a powerful lure. Unsustainable use of natural areas
and exploitation of natural resources is a growing concern.
In common with most undeveloped countries, Vietnam’s
problem is not obtaining income from tourism activities: it’s keeping
the money in the country and directing it towards the impoverished
communities who live in the areas that attract tourists.
Our responsibilities
As a responsible Vietnam tour operator, we do our best to minimise
the amount of money that leaves the country via international hotel
chains and similar routes by using Vietnam hotels and service providers
wherever practical.
Unlike many Vietnam tour companies, we take
our responsibility towards protecting the culture and environment
of the countries in which we work very seriously. We work with our
Tourism Association, NGOs and local communities to support initiatives
to use Vietnam tourism as a means of improving the income of local
people.