A brief overview of ecotourism concepts1.1.Concept and characteristics of eco-tourism1.1.1.ConceptEcotourism is a form of tourism focused on experiencing nature and indigenouscultures wh
lOMoARcPSD|39222806 HANOI UNIVERSITY OF INDUSTRY SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND TOURISM FINAL ASSIGNMENT A CASE STUDY OF TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK IN VIETNAM Course name: Ecotourism TO6159_TA Course code: Nguyen Thi Kieu Tam Course instructor: 6 Group: HANOI, 2024 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 HANOI UNIVERSITY OF INDUSTRY SCHOOL OF LANGUAGES AND TOURISM FINAL ASSIGNMENT A CASE STUDY OF TRAM CHIM NATIONAL PARK IN VIETNAM Group members Ha Long Vu - 2022602202 Nguyen Thuy Linh - 2022602286 Vuong Sy Truong - 2022607010 Nguyen Thi Doan Trang - 2022601189 HANOI, 2024 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 TABLE CONTENTS I INTRODUCTION 1 A brief overview of ecotourism concepts 1.1.Concept and characteristics of eco-tourism 1.1.1.Concept 1.1.2 Characteristics 1.2 Types of ecotourism: 1.3 Factors influencing the organization of implementation of Eco tourism 1.3 1 Natural resources 1.3.2 Society's awareness of ecotourism activities 1.3.3 Mechanisms and policies 1.3.4 Propaganda and promotional activities 1.4 Conditions for developing Ecotourism 1.5 The rational for choosing the specific ecotourism location in Vietnam II LITERATURE REVIEW 1 Eco-tourism in Vietnam 1.1 Eco-tourism potentials of countries 1.1.1 Bhutan 1.1.2 Chile 1.2 Ecotourism potentials of territories worldwide 1.3 Current status of ecotourism in VietNam 1.3.1 Natural resources potential 1.3.2 Coastal ecosystems 1.3.3 Limestone ecosystems 1.3.4 Special use forest system 1.3.5 Fruit gardens 1.3.6 Cultural integrity potential 1.3.7 The reality of ecotourism in Vietnam today 1.4 Development directions of ecotourism in Vietnam 1.4.1 Some specific solutions to implement the above directions include III METHODOLOGY 1 Description of the research design 3 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 2 Sampling strategy and sample size determination 3 Ethical considerations IV DISCUSSION 1 Eco-tourism program planning 1.1.The process of designing a travel program 1.1.1 Tourist market research 1.1.2 Supply market research 1.1.3 Develop the purpose and ideas of the travel program 1.1.4 Build tour schedule 1.1.5 Building prices for tours 1.1.6 Complete tour 2 Requirements of an eco-tourism worker 2.1 Required knowledge of an ecotourism guide 2.1.1 Knowledge about ecotourism 2.1.2 Knowledge about the natural environment 2.1.3 Cultural knowledge 2.1.4 Other professional knowledge 2.2 Skills required for an ecotourism tour guide 2.2.1 Personal Qualities 2.2.2 Knowledge 2.2.3 Practical Skills 2.2.4 Additional Tips 2.3 Attitudes required for an ecotourism tour leader V CONCLUSION 1 Tram Chim National Park - a prominent tourist destination in Dong Thap 2 The reasons why Tram Chim National Park attracts tourists 3 Developing ecotourism in Tram Chim National Park VI SELF AND PEER-ASSESMENT REFLECTION REFERENCES I INTRODUCTION 4 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 1 A brief overview of ecotourism concepts 1.1.Concept and characteristics of eco-tourism 1.1.1.Concept Ecotourism is a form of tourism focused on experiencing nature and indigenous cultures while minimizing negative environmental impact and promoting conservation It actively involves local communities and contributes to sustainable development This responsible tourism model allows tourists to enjoy pristine natural areas, appreciate cultural heritage, and contribute positively to the environment and local economies 1.1.2 Characteristics - Environmental conservation: Ecotourism prioritizes minimizing tourism's footprint and preserving natural habitats - Minimized impact: It strives for responsible infrastructure using local materials, renewable energy, recycling, and safe waste disposal - Funding conservation: Through park fees, tour operator contributions, and other mechanisms, ecotourism helps fund environmental protection, research, and education - Community involvement: Local communities participate in planning and managing ecotourism activities, ensuring their needs are considered - Education: Ecotourism fosters environmental and cultural awareness through learning opportunities for tourists - Economic benefits: Ecotourism generates income for local communities, promoting sustainable development and poverty reduction 1.2 Types of ecotourism: - Mass tourism: The more conventional type of tourist development, known as mass tourism, is characterized by short-term, free-market principles that prioritize income maximization - Alternative tourism: The phrase "alternative tourism" refers to a broad category of tourist practices, five subdivisions: - Cultural: Cultural tourism is a type of tourism where people explore certain places to learn the cultural production and attraction - Educational: Learning the different aspects for acquiring knowledge and collecting evidence for any research project./ - Scientific: Scientific tourism means visiting a place for any scientific knowledge acquisition 5 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 - Adventure: Adventure tourism is a kind of tourism where you explore and experience different adventures or risk full activities - Agri-tourism: Agri-tourism is another great way to explore and experience nature Tram Chim is intended to support the rehabilitation of Dong Thap Muoi's wetland habitat These days, it has undergone renovations and investments to become a nature museum and a popular ecotourism destination for travelers visiting Vietnam And Tram Chim belong to Alternative tourism, because the nearly entire wetland habitat of the flooded Dong Thap Muoi floodplain is preserved in Tram Chim The National Park has been designed to grow ecotourism over time - Emphasis on education and awareness: The typical ecosystem in Tram Chim National Park is the inland wetland ecosystem characterized by the evergreen broadleaf evergreen closed forest type on acidic soils - Slower pace and authentic experiences: The diversity and abundance of the plant mentioned above and animal species is an essential basis for the National Park 1.3 Factors influencing the organization of implementation of Eco tourism 1.3 1 Natural resources -In 2000, Le Huy Ba also introduced the concept of ecotourism: "Ecotourism is a form of nature-based tourism, associated with local cultural identity with community participation for development." stable” -According to Vietnam Tourism Law 2017: "Eco-tourism is a type of tourism based on nature, associated with local cultural identity, with the participation of the community, combined with education on environmental protection." school" -Natural resources expressed in specific ecosystems are the decisive factor in ecotourism products The value of an ecotourism resource is assessed by its ability to attract tourists, meet the needs of tourists, its uniqueness, accessibility to tourists and the exploitable time of that resource The level of exploitation of ecotourism resources depends on the following factors: the ability to research, discover and evaluate potentials that are still hidden, the ability to access them, the ability to develop products and processes level of organization for exploiting ecotourism resources, especially in places with sensitive ecosystems Natural resources are extremely diverse and rich in terrain, climate, water sources, flora and fauna From there, creating diversity in ecotourism activities - According to Pham Trung Luong (2002), the basic characteristics of natural resources that affect ecotourism activities are: 6 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 (i) Natural resources are often very sensitive to human impacts and strongly affected by environmental incidents (ii) Natural resources have different exploitation periods, so ecotourism activities are seasonal (iii) Natural resources are often located in areas with few people and are often exploited locally to create products and services (iv) Natural resources can be renewed and used many times if ecotourism activities are properly exploited (v) Natural resources themselves may not necessarily be intended to attract tourists In short, natural resources have a decisive influence on the formation of ecotourism landscapes, are the conditions to attract tourists, determine the type of ecotourism, and form ecotourism Seasonality of ecotourism activities It is necessary to grasp natural laws, predict the level of human impact on nature and natural resources, propose plans to develop, use and protect, protect and regenerate natural resources in a reasonable, effective and sustainable way 1.3.2 Society's awareness of ecotourism activities - In all activities, including ecotourism activities, people are always the most important factor In ecotourism activities, there are many participants such as state tourism management agencies, tourism operators, policy activists, international nature and environment organizations, tour guides, service staff at service establishments, local communities and tourists participating in ecotourism activities - Specifically, for tourism managers and operators, policy activists, and international natural and environmental organizations, they are those who directly set policies, orientations, and guidelines for tourism development ecotourism, in addition to having qualifications, experience and expertise in the field of ecotourism, it is also necessary to have the right perspective and awareness about ecotourism development Tour guides and service staff at service establishments are considered a bridge between tourists and tourism Therefore, they have a decisive influence on improving environmental education for the community - If the tour guide has a high professional level, good foreign language, extensive environmental knowledge, and understanding of natural ecological sites and local community culture, he or she will be able to introduce properly authenticate the value of ecotourism destinations, help visitors understand the nature of ecotourism, and increase the attractiveness and persuasion of ecotourism destinations At the same time, the educational role of ecotourism is also fully implemented, making the effectiveness of ecotourism activities improved - For tourists participating in ecotourism activities, if tourists have a correct awareness of ecotourism, are proactive in participating in ecotourism activities, are 7 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 self-aware and wish to contribute for conservation and sustainable development activities, it will contribute to promoting ecotourism activities to develop according to the right goals and vice versa 1.3.3 Mechanisms and policies - State management mechanisms and policies on ecotourism are important in the development of sustainable ecotourism That is reflected in the management roles and tasks of local ecotourism management levels at all levels - According to Pham Trung Luong (2002), the impacts of mechanisms and policies on ecotourism are specifically as follows: - Firstly, organize the implementation of general policies and laws of the State related to tourism activities and promulgate legal documents and specific tourism development policies of the locality under its jurisdiction permission - Second, establish mechanisms and policies in the area to help units operating in the tourism sector orient their development - Third, arrange and equitize state-owned enterprises operating in the tourism sector under local management - Fourth, create inter-industry, inter-regional, and inter-national linkages in tourism activities; between local and central government in state management of tourism - Fifth, organize training, fostering and support training and fostering human resources for tourism activities - Sixth, carry out the work of checking and inspecting tourism activities and handling violations in the field of tourism 1.3.4 Propaganda and promotional activities - In the trend of international economic integration, there are many opportunities but also many challenges for every economy, competition is more fierce, every industry, organization and individual understands the meaning and role of the economy The important role of promotion, including propaganda and advertising activities, is to achieve its goals - Propaganda and promotion play a role in providing tourism information, while creating an image and contributing to the branding of the destination Propagate and promote to raise awareness about tourism in society - In reality, there are many forms of tourism propaganda and promotion According to Phan Thi Thai Ha (2012), based on the way propaganda and promotion activities are organized, they can be divided into 2 types: 8 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 (i) Regular form: establishing domestic and international tourism information centers to provide tourism information to tourists and interested parties; Participate in periodic tourism fairs held in a certain city (ii) Irregular form: organizing tourism years, organizing cultural and tourism events and festivals; promotional programs based on certain topics -Propaganda and promotional media are everything that can bring propaganda messages to the public In the field of tourism, information, destination images, and tourism products and services are conveyed to the public through many means and forms - Along with the development of science and technology, more and more new forms and means of propaganda and promotion are appearing Each form or means of propaganda and promotion of tourism has its own characteristics and properties, targets its own audience and requires different levels of investment (Phan Thi Thai Ha, 2012) - Some popular forms and means of propaganda and promotion are: mass media (websites); organize tourism fairs, exhibitions, events, conferences, seminars, surveys; produce and distribute publications and articles; build a title - a general symbol for the promotion campaign; Electronic tourist information kiosk (Phan Thi Thai Ha, 2012) 1.4 Conditions for developing Ecotourism - The first requirement to be able to organize ecotourism is the existence of natural ecosystems + With high ecological diversity, natural ecology is understood as the symbiosis of geographical, climatic and flora and fauna conditions including: natural ecology, animal ecology, plant ecology, agricultural ecology, climate ecology, human ecology + Ecotourism is a type of nature-based tourism (referred to as nature tourism) and it can only exist and develop in places with typical ecosystems with high ecological diversity in particular and biodiversity in general => Therefore, ecotourism often only develops in nature reserves, especially in national parks, and forests with high biodiversity and wild life - Second request: + To ensure education and improve understanding for domestic and foreign tourists, the tour guide must not only be good at foreign languages but also have a deep understanding of natural ecological features and community culture Local => Very important and has a great impact on the effectiveness of ecotourism activities => In ecotourism, tourists can learn about it themselves or do not require this understanding from the tour guide 9 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 + Ecotourism requires a principled operator Traditional tourism operators often only care about profits without any commitment when operating - Third requirement: minimize the impacts of ecotourism activities on nature and the environment Ecotourism needs to be organized with strict compliance with regulations on "carrying capacity" understood from four aspects: physics, biology, psychology and sociology from a physical perspective Capacity here is understood as the maximum number of visitors that the area can receive + From a physical perspective, capacity here is understood as the maximum number of visitors that the area can receive + From a social perspective: carrying capacity is the limit on the number of tourists at which negative impacts of tourism activities begin to appear on the socio- cultural, economic and social life of the region + From a biological perspective: carrying capacity is understood as the maximum number of visitors which, if larger, will exceed the receiving capacity of the environment, causing ecological impacts due to tourist activities and the facilities they use caused by use + From a psychological perspective: capacity is understood as a limit on the number of visitors, which, if exceeded, visitors themselves will begin to feel uncomfortable about crowding and their activities will be affected by the presence of tourists other guests - Fourth requirement: Satisfy the need to improve knowledge of tourists Ecotourists gaining new experiences and understanding of nature and local culture is often very difficult, but it is a necessary requirement for the long-term existence of ecotourism So services to satisfy tourists have an important position, second only to the conservation of what they participate in 1.5 The rational for choosing the specific ecotourism location in Vietnam Vietnam has a lot of potential for the growth of ecotourism, particularly in its national parks One of the several national parks is Tram Chim Because Tram Chim still has this kind of tourism, there is possibility for it to grow Nearly whole is the wetland habitat found in Dong Thap Muoi's closed flood zone Red-crowned Cranes and several other uncommon bird species are also present in Tram Chim and are beneficial for tourist research and viewing The 29th of December, 1998 saw the establishment of Tram Chim National Park The Mekong Delta's first national park is this one The national park has been designed to grow ecotourism over time Still, there are still several issues with the Park's tourist growth, including: tourism products Staff members providing tourist services have inadequate credentials and overlap between routes Absence of professionalism and experience, inadequate technology to support tourism, etc As a result, it's critical to accurately assess the potential and state of tourist growth Based on this assessment, 10 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 Chile is one of the top countries in the world for ethical travel, and is consistently ranked by various sources amongst the top 10 when it comes to environmental protection, social welfare, human rights, and sustainable (tourism) development In 2020, Chile was named the World’s Leading Nature Destination It’s not a surprise, as it is home to 41 National Parks, 45 Reserves and 17 Natural Monuments A large part of Chile's conservation efforts is down to the founder of the clothing brand North Face and his wife They purchased land and then donated it back, which has led to the creation/expansion of 15 national parks, 2 marine national parks, and over 44 million acres of land and sea being protected During the 1990s, the number of visitors to Chile's 31 National Parks and 15 national monuments increased by 32%, topping a million visitors in 2000 The need to promote expanded capacity for ecotourism in Chile led in 1996 to the establishment of a National System of Protected Wildland Areas or SNAPSE (Systema Nacional de Ár eas Silvestres Protegidas del Estado Chileno) Responsible ecotourism in Chile is about choosing responsible tour operators, minimizing waste, respecting local customs, and staying on designated trails are crucial for preserving Chile's natural beauty and cultural heritage By following these principles, ecotourists can ensure their visit benefits both the environment and the local communities Chile's diverse ecosystems and commitment to sustainable tourism make it a prime destination for the eco-conscious traveler 1.2 Ecotourism potentials of territories worldwide Ecotourism focuses on preserving natural and cultural values while enjoying them sustainably Its potential varies globally based on: - Terrain: Diverse landscapes like mountains, forests, and islands offer high ecotourism potential - Climate: Pleasant climates attract tourists to eco-activities - Water Resources: Rivers, lakes, and seas enable various water-based ecotourism experiences - Flora & Fauna: Rich and diverse plant and animal life attracts tourists for wildlife viewing, forest exploration, etc - Indigenous Culture: Unique indigenous cultures offer cultural experiences for ecotourists Based on the above factors, the ecotourism potential of territories around the world can be analyzed as follows: - South America boasts the world's largest rainforest, diverse ecosystems, and unique wildlife, making it a prime destination for ecotourism This region offers 12 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 various activities like exploring rainforests, mountains, and diverse marine environments Ex: Amazon: The world's largest tropical rain forest, home to thousands of rare plant and animal species - North America, with its diverse landscapes like coniferous forests, deserts, and historical relics alongside rich indigenous cultures, presents a multitude of ecotourism options: forest, sea, mountain, and cultural immersion experiences Ex: Alaska Wilderness: Vast wilderness with rich flora and fauna, including polar bears, reindeer, salmon, - Europe's diverse tapestry, encompassing temperate forests, mountains, and historical remnants of ancient civilizations, offers immense ecotourism potential This region boasts various activities like forest exploration, mountain adventures, and cultural immersion experiences Ex: Alpes: The majestic Alps, home to many ecotourism activities such as climbing, skiing, hiking, - Asia, boasting the world's second-largest rainforest and diverse ecosystems, presents significant ecotourism potential This region offers a variety of activities, from exploring rainforests and mountains to experiencing diverse marine environments Ex: Lake Baikal: The world's largest freshwater lake, home to many rare plant and animal species - Africa, home to the world's largest deserts, diverse wildlife, and a rich tapestry of forests, marine ecosystems, and historical sites, offers unparalleled ecotourism potential This region boasts activities like desert exploration, forest adventures, marine exploration, and cultural immersion Ex: Serengeti National Park: The national park is famous for its millions of migratory antelopes - Oceania's pristine islands and diverse marine ecosystems make it an ecotourism paradise This region offers captivating experiences like island hopping and exploring vibrant marine life Ex: Great Barrier Reef: The world's largest coral reef system, home to thousands of marine plant and animal species 1.3 Current status of ecotourism in VietNam 1.3.1 Natural resources potential Vietnam is both a “cradle” of native species and a transitional area of organisms from the biota of the north (Himalaya-south China), the south (Malaysia-Indonesia) and the west (India-Myanmar) (Khanh 1999) Moreover, due to its diversity of 13 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 topography and climatic conditions, Vietnam is rich in floral and faunal species, of which 10 percent and 11 percent, respectively, are endemic The three big animal species that have been recently discovered in Vietnam are “Sao la” (Pseudoryx nghetinhensis) in 1992, “Mang lon” (Megamuntiacus vuquangensis) in 1993, and “Mang Truong Son” (Muntiacus truongsonensis) in 1996 Indeed, Vietnam is considered one of sixteen countries with the highest biodiversity in a wide range of ecosystems (WCMC 1962)—a very favorable condition for ecotourism development 1.3.2 Coastal ecosystems Vietnam’s 3260 km of coastline hosts a variety of coastal ecosystems The number of seagrass species in Vietnam ranks second only to the Philippines within ASEAN Seagrass beds are increasingly abundant from north to south and are home to 125 benthic species and 158 seaweed species (Tien 2000) Sea cow (Dugong dugong or manatee)—an animal species in danger of extinction—can be found in the Con Dao seagrass bed Vietnam’s diversified mangrove forests suffered greatly during the two Indochina wars In recent years, mangrove reforestation efforts have been made by many groups, ranging from central and local governments to NGOs and other international organizations A typical example is Can Gio Mangroves (described in the case study below), designated by UNESCO as the first Biosphere Reserve in Vietnam on 21 January 2000 and included in the world network of Biosphere Reserves 1.3.3 Limestone ecosystems Limestone mountains are distributed mostly from the north to Quang Binh These mountains of evergreen forests have vivid fauna and flora species They are also home to the distinctive cultures represented by some of Vietnam’s ethnic minorities Vo Tri Chung (2002) stated that limestone mountains contain many historical vestiges of human civilization, social development, and protection of the country Visitors can hike in limestone mountains in the Cat Ba, Ba Be, and Cuc Phuong National Parks and the Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Paco-Hangkia Nature Reserves 1.3.4 Special use forest system According to the Tourism Development Research Institute, the special use forest system includes eleven national parks of 259,797 ha; sixty-one nature reserves of 1,692,351 ha; and thirty-four environmental, historical, and cultural forests of 147,886 ha The total area of special use forests in Vietnam is 3,100,034 ha, accounting for 28.4 percent of total forest land (10,915,592 ha) Some national parks are located in remote areas, such as the Pu Mat and the Ben En national parks; others lie along national roads or near big cities with convenient transportation suitable for ecotourism development They are Ba Vi national park (Ha Tay province), Cuc Phuong national park (Ninh Binh province), Cat Ba national park (Hai Phong province), Tam Dao national park (Vinh Phuc province), Bach Ma 14 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 national park (Thua Thien Hue province), and Nam Cat Yien national park (Dong Nai Province) In recent years, the government of Vietnam has invested in improving infrastructure and investigating the floral, faunal, geological, and geomorphological characteristics of national parks These areas have become research sites for the maintenance of biodiversity samples Therefore many universities and research institutions have organized visits for students, cadres, and foreigners We hope the open door policy of sustainable tourism development will continue to channel appropriate investment to national parks in order to welcome nature reseachers to Vietnam Since 1987, the establishment of special use forests increased thanks to interest from the central to local levels, the cooperation of scientists and researchers, and the coordination and assistance of international organizations and NGOs It is in these forests that ecotourism should continue to be developed for both their natural and their cultural value 1.3.5 Fruit gardens Lying in the tropical region, Vietnam has many varieties of fruit trees, especially in the Mekong river delta, where warm weather favors year-round tree growth After hard-working days in noisy urban areas, visitors can walk in gardens of diversified fruits of many colors and sample the simple, peaceful life closely associated with the river One newly emerged ecotourist village is My Khanh village, about 10 km from Can Tho City in the southwest It is a fruit garden located on 40,000 m2 with many canals and creeks, floating markets, traditional (“rong”) style guesthouses, and stocked lakes for fishing and boating It is a good place for visitors interested in culinary culture, local fruit specialties, traditional production of noodles, wine, young sticky rice, mat weaving, and rice grinding (Sai Gon Economics Time 2002) 1.3.6 Cultural integrity potential Vietnam is rich in culture identity, with fifty-four peoples whose indigenous knowledge should also be accessible to visitors One of the principles of ecotourism is to preserve cultural integrity because human value cannot be separated from natural value As most potential ecotourist sites are inhabited by ethnic minorities, the principle of “encouraging community participation in ecotourism activities” should both create income and help maintain cultural identity These communities have a deep understanding of traditional festivals, cultivation and land use customs, culinary culture, traditional lifestyle and handicrafts, and historical places A trip to the limestone mountain of Cao Bang-Bac Kan, for example, is valuable not only for the natural Ba Be Lake, but for the opportunity to learn about cultivation customs, dying practices using endemic plants to produce brocading (Cham weaving), and traditional handmade boats of precious timber collected in the forest 15 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 Cultural value is also represented in Vietnam’s approximately 100 traditional festivals The Nghinh Ong Festival—to worship “Whale”—is the biggest festival of coastal fishermen in Vietnam (Canh 2002) Other distinctive celebrations are the “Spring” festival of Thai and Muong ethnic minorities and elephant racing and buffalo festivals in Tay Nguyen 1.3.7 The reality of ecotourism in Vietnam today According to Nguyen Van De (2002), there was a 7.1-fold increase in international tourist visits from 300,000 in 1991 to 2.14 million in 2000; domestic tourism experienced a 7.5 fold rise, from 1.5 million to 11.3 million visits This is a high rate of increase compared to other countries in the region, bringing international tourism in Vietnam to a near equal level with the Philippines and to about one quarter of that of Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand Because ecotourism is important for environmental education, maintenance of indigenous culture, and local economic development, both investment and government encouragement are required Fillion et al (1992, cited in Ceballos-Lascurain 1996, cited in Le Van Lanh 1999) estimated that international ecotourism generated USD 93- 233 billion in 1988, and in fact, most nature reserves in the world are dependent on ecotourism revenues But ecotourism also needs investment in human resources (especially tourist guides), management, and fundamental research and planning focused on the natural environment of proposed ecotourism sites Investors at home and abroad have preferred to focus on infrastructure like hotels and restaurants What investment does exist goes mainly to national parks and nature reserves and comes from the state budget through the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and from international organizations like WWF and the governments of the Netherlands, Hong Kong, and Singapore Total capital investment in national parks and nature reserves from 1994 to 1999 was VND 71.1 billion (USD 1.1 million today) According to the Institute of Tourism Research and Development’s 1999 investigation, visitor entrance fees generated VND 386.2 (USD 25,150) million for reinvestment in infrastructure, conservation, and forestry development (Luong 2000) This tangled web of oversight has yielded no national strategy for ecotourism in Vietnam And although tourist routes have been set up, no zoning plans have clearly delineated areas for ecotourism activites in national parks and nature reserves 1.4 Development directions of ecotourism in Vietnam According to the Vietnam Ecotourism Development Strategy to 2030, Vietnam's goal is to become a leading ecotourism destination in the region and the world To achieve this goal, Vietnam needs to focus on the following development directions: [1] Community-oriented ecotourism development [2] Linking ecotourism with nature conservation [3] Sustainable ecotourism development 16 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 1.4.1 Some specific solutions to implement the above directions include [1] Increase investment in developing eco-tourism infrastructure and services [2] Strengthen training and raise awareness of local communities about ecotourism [3] Strengthen propaganda and promotion of eco-tourism - It is necessary to develop plans and innovate mechanisms and policies to create conditions for widespread ecotourism development in many regions of the country - Strengthen propaganda and promotional activities to raise awareness of society and the community about the importance of ecotourism development in the sustainable development of the country - Strengthen environmental management and protection measures to prevent and stop new sources of pollution; Control environmental degradation from economic development activities III METHODOLOGY 1 Description of the research design - Quantitative: The quantitative method uses statistical tools to collect quantitative data, allowing measurement and comparison of different aspects of ecotourism in Tram Chim National Park 2 Sampling strategy and sample size determination - Make some questions related to Tram Chim national park and put them in a form After that send this form to other people and make a transcript from their responds 3 Ethical considerations Quantitative research methods play an important role in ecotourism research at Tram Chim National Park It provides accurate, objective and comparable data, helping to better understand ecotourism activities and support effective decision- making IV DISCUSSION 1 Eco-tourism program planning 1.1.The process of designing a travel program 1.1.1 Tourist market research Tourist market research is the first and most important step in the process of designing a tour program Travel businesses need to research the tourist market to determine: 17 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 – Motivation and purpose of travel: according to different seasons and times, customers will have different motives and purposes of travel – Payment ability: depends on the customer's payment ability to design the tour accordingly – Idle time: customers are only idle at certain times, so you should give them a few ideas for them to choose from For example, October is suitable for a tour to experience the ripe rice season of Mu Cang Chai (Yen Bai) instead of designing a beach tour – Consumption habits, tastes, quality requirements 1.1.2 Supply market research Each type of service will have many different providers, and the standards of service quality and service quality will also be different Therefore, travel companies need to carefully study the ability of each supplier to meet the following requirements: tourist attractions, transportation services, accommodation services, food services, shopping and entertainment services From there, choose which unit is suitable for the company's travel program 1.1.3 Develop the purpose and ideas of the travel program Purpose and tour ideas: based on researching tourists' motivations and travel purposes to build a tour If it is a tour combining team building, the travel company needs to include in the program everything from the schedule to games aimed at solidarity and bonding everyone in the group together; If it is a business tour, the schedule will be light so that customers have time to focus mainly on business purposes, etc Currently, the tours built by travel companies are similar, even copied from each other, so before starting to build a tour schedule, you need to consider and evaluate your competitors' competitive tours (consider their competitors) nothing, nothing yet) Then come up with a plan to design a tour that is new, attractive, and unique that only your travel company has 1.1.4 Build tour schedule – Arrange the order of tourist destinations: the main tourist attractions are arranged by time from the departure date to the end of the tour so that it is reasonable, which point should you go first, which point should you go later for convenient travel both attractive to customers – Choose a suitable supply chain that meets service standards: Transportation service: safe, reliable with quality vehicles guaranteed to be regularly inspected and maintained 18 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 Accommodation services: hotels, resorts, homestays, with clean rooms, full equipment, good service quality and service Catering service: has enough capacity for the group of guests, meets food hygiene and safety, attractive menu, with typical regional dishes – Detail the tour program: after setting the time frame according to the days; has a main tourist destination; Linking with service providers near tourist destinations will add a few attractive secondary destinations; More details on travel time, meals 1.1.5 Building prices for tours Building prices for tours requires calculating the cost price and selling price This price calculation is a very important basis for accurately determining the profit that the tourism business achieves – Cost: are the direct costs that the travel company must pay to conduct the tour according to the specific program (if calculated for the entire group of tourists, it is called the total cost of the program to conduct the trip) – Selling price: is made up of component factors such as: price, other costs, selling costs, profit and value added tax, 1.1.6 Complete tour This is the final step in the travel program At this step, you need to pay attention to review the reasonableness of the tour schedule above, and add terms, regulations, notes,etc…depending on the travel business unit - The structure of a travel program usually includes: - Program name – Itinerary – Time - Content - Daily schedule - Photos of typical destinations by day - Price quote, price included, not included, price for children, - Notes and contact information (head office, company branches, emergency contact person) SAMPLE ECOTOURISM PROGRAMS “ TRAM CHIM TOUR ” Day 1: In the morning: - 7:00 AM: Pick up at meeting point in City Ho Chi Minh - 7:30 AM: Depart for Tram Chim National Park 19 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com) lOMoARcPSD|39222806 - 10:30 AM: Arrive at Tram Chim National Park, check-in at the hotel - 11:00 AM: Lunch at a local restaurant with specialty dishes In the afternoon: - 1:00 PM: Visit Tram Chim National Park on a boat, sightseeing and taking pictures - 3:30 PM: Visit the National Bird Sanctuary, where you can observe rare birds - 5:30 PM: Return to accommodation, relax and enjoy dinner In the evening: - Freely explore the surrounding area or participate in recreational activities at the resort Day 2: In the morning: - 6:00 AM: Get up early to join the boat tour earlier to see the sunrise and bird activities - 8:00 AM: Return to accommodation to clean up and prepare to return to the city Ho Chi Minh - 10:00 AM: Depart to return to the city Ho Chi Minh In the afternoon: - 1:00 PM: Expected to arrive in City Ho Chi Minh, end of trip SERVICES INCLUDED: - Mineral water on day tours - Breakfast, lunch as specified in the itinerary (B= Breakfast, L=Lunch) - Private air-conditioned vehicle with driver during all tours and transfers - Entrance fees for all visits as mentioned in the itinerary 2 Requirements of an eco-tourism worker 2.1 Required knowledge of an ecotourism guide 2.1.1 Knowledge about ecotourism - Understanding of the basic principles and concepts of ecotourism - Master the regulations and laws related to ecotourism - Understanding of different types of ecotourism - Have knowledge about famous ecotourism areas 2.1.2 Knowledge about the natural environment 20 Downloaded by MON HOANG (monmon3@gmail.com)