VIETNAM VS TURKEY SUSTAINABLE TOURISM IMPLEMENTATION

Tourism in International Relations
Lecture: Drs. Usmar Salam, MIS
Written by:
Elyzabeth B. Nasution
07/257494/SP/22489

As many countries keep fighting with their tourism’s development and trying to reach the sustainable tourism, Vietnam and Turkey have come to sustainable tourism. Of course, those countries’ governments have done many things to be on that position. We will see how each country defines theory of sustainable tourism and how they implement the sustainable tourism theory on theirs as well.
This study, comparing the theory and implementation of sustainable tourism in Vietnam and Turkey, is chosen based on fact that these countries really represent a developing country which has tried and keep trying doing the sustainable tourism. Other countries can not represent this as well as Vietnam and Turkey.

Vietnam

Vietnam is a densely populated country that in the last 30 years has been recovering from the ravages of war and the rigidities of a centrally planned economy. The government introduced elements of market forces and private enterprises in 1986 and has continued to liberalize the economy since then, implementing structural reforms to modernize the economy and produce more competitive export-driven industries.
Despite these measures to generate growth, Vietnam is still a largely agricultural country, with more than two-third of the workforce employed in the sector. Almost 20 percent of the population, mostly in the rural areas, still lives on less than a dollar a day. The country’s wealth is concentrated in the major cities, where the consumer market is growing, fuelled by the appetite of a young middle-class for mobile phones and luxury goods.
Talking about Vietnam, one thing that we will never forget is about the US vs. Vietnam War. But, deeper than just a war, Vietnam has a tourism side which has been being increased to be a sustainable tourism. Country which is located in Indochina Peninsula has a very good tourism’s potency. Vietnam presents us a natural tourism, cultural tourism, historical tourism.
The tourism potential of Vietnam is unquestionable: beautiful beaches, islands, caves, water resources, and many untouched natural landscapes. A rich history and culture features historical and architectural remains, sophisticated forms of arts and handicrafts, and the colorful and fascinating customs and lifestyle of over 50 ethnic minority groups.
Vietnam has experienced remarkable growth in the tourism sector over the last 15 years, with average annual growth rates of 24 percent for international tourist visits. The country hosted 200,000 international tourists in 1990, a number which grew to 2.9 million in 2004.
Sustainable tourism is defined as tourism which gives nature and environment chance to be long-lasting aspect in developing tourism. It also gives benefit in economic side that can prosper people.
Sustainable tourism refers to a tourism developing that prevents destroying or quality decreasing of natural resources and makes the development is done by ecological, socio-cultural, and sustainability economy aspects. Based on this perception, Vietnamese government now is doing the Strategy of Tourism Development. The Strategy for Tourism Development in Vietnam 2000-2010 is focused on more investment in tourism to create highly competitive tourism products and to improve the quality of tourism services. The goal is to attract 6 million foreign tourists and 23 million domestic tourists by 2010, with estimated revenues of 4.4 billion U.S. dollars, which is 12 per cent of the total GNP. Furthermore, the Vietnamese government has expressed its intention toward the “socialization of tourism”, a strategy to make tourism more accessible to a wider range of the population and to spread the benefits of tourism more broadly over regions and social groups.
The general objectives of the action program are setting a powerful and sustainable development steps for Vietnam tourism, affirming the role of a spearhead economic sector of Vietnam. By 2010, Vietnam will have symmetrical, physical and technical tourism facilities and unique tourism products with Vietnam cultural identities, turning Vietnam into an attractive destination of the global tourism. It also concentrate with some other objectives, such as:
- By 2010, international arrivals are expected to reach the number of 5.5 to 6 million and domestic visitors will possibly reach the number of 25 million, up by 15 to 20% each year. Social income from tourism will reach about US $5 billion by 2010, doubling the income of the year 2005.
- Some distinctive tourism products of Vietnam with high competition must be created to attract tourists by raising expenditure and the length of stay of arrivals on the basis of upgrading and investing in new tourism resorts, exploiting great potentials of Vietnam tourism.
- The image of Vietnam in general and the position of Vietnam tourism in particular on international arena will be raised on the basis of enhancing tourism promotion and increasing the social awareness of tourism.
Of course, in doing this project, the Vietnamese government finds challenges to be done, such as:
- Tourism marketing and promotional activities will serve the purpose of raising Vietnam image in general and Vietnam tourism in particular abroad. Unique products of Vietnam tourism are promoted and a distinctive traditional culture of Vietnam is introduced to draw international arrivals from all over the world. Inside the country, it serves the purpose of raising awareness of all levels, industries in the society about the position and the role of tourism, a spearhead economic sector, raising people’s responsibility on preserving natural, cultural and environmental heritages in the course of country development.
- The quality of Vietnam tourism products need be diversified and improved, environmental resources must be conserved and the sustainable tourism development must be ensured to create new and unique tourism products by paying great attention to ecological, historical and cultural tourism products to attract tourists.
- Training and education of tourism resources need be incorporated into curricular of tourism training system at all levels as well as raising awareness about tourism natural resources protection and environment among tourists and local communities. Man is the first element in the course of tourism development. Therefore, the program should invest in training and re-training both management and tourism business, supplementing tourism-specialized schools. It is necessary to rapidly train tourism staff that has skills, capacity to meet the demand of tourism development and international integration.
- It is also vital to strengthen the powerful mechanism of the state administration on tourism from the central to local levels in conformity with its tasks of a spearhead economic sector. Co-ordination with sectors and industries is needed to build policies, encourage tourism development, and facilitate favorable conditions for tourists to Vietnam to comply with international general rules.
This implementation of sustainable development is marked good if we compare to other country especially other Asian countries.

Turkey

Turkey got advantage from its geographical condition. Its geographical condition gives a very nice opportunity for Turkey to develop its tourism potency. Besides, in 2007 Turkey invited 23.5 millions tourists and became 28 millions in 2008. It had successfully proved to the international tourism that Turkey could improve tourism as one of foreign change source. The way does its sustainable tourism theory by using the geographical condition, including climate thing, increasing role of Turkey government optimally, and dealing with challenges and opportunities of developing sustainable tourism.
Turkey has four (4) aspects of sustainable tourism that will be improved and has been improved. They are:
- Socio-culture
Country with Ankara as its capital, borders with Asia and Europe. This condition influences the culture and Turkey’s history. As the strategic location, Turkey has mix culture between west and east culture and presents a new unique culture from two areas. With Adriatic and China powerful influence through Russia and India strip, Turkey becomes a great region for tourism.
- Economy aspect
Investment is very good in Turkey. Low price, stable economic condition, and a big opportunity to be European Union member, it is a very complete package to invest in Turkey. Even, recent transformations give Turkey a perfect reason to be the best place for properties investment in Europe.
- Knowledge and technology
Turkey is a good example in tourism development, education, economy, and industries. Turkey used the historical tourism as the key of all developments. The ocean and seas around Turkey make it possible to increase the sea tourism where people may enjoy the sea sight. The ports are designed neatly.
- Security
As the past of Turkey security condition gave the bad impact of its stability and tourism, Turkey is now working on the security aspect to prepare the next tourism years in Turkey.
The Turkey’s achievement in tourism activity is supported by government active role. Government opens many chances to make the using of natural assets, historical assets, cultural assets, and archeological assets optimal. And it is not only the capital/central government; the local government also plays that role. That’s why the tourism in Turkey is one step ahead compare to other country.
To do the implementation of sustainable tourism, the government of Turkey utilizes the Tourism Department of Turkey to state the principles of sustainable development such as how to use the natural resources properly, to do the restoration and to do the sustainable maintenance of natural resources, also to do the protection for the local society, local tourists, and international tourists. Specifically, the sustainable tourism development’s principles are: participation, stick togetherness, local ownership, sustainable using of natural resources, accommodate people/society objectives, supporting power, and monitoring, evaluation, accountability, training, and promotion.
Generally, Turkey’s tourism policies are done to keep the economic benefit from tourism for people/society interests and to make sure that the tourism is eco-friendly. Then, one of the major tasks of the department is to launch the regulation for tourism stuff (the tourism destinations, promotion things, government investment, local government, professional association, and the NGOs).
Some challenges for sustainable tourism development in Turkeys are the misperceptions among involved parties. This misperception is done partially, in financial sector, benefit’s distribution coordination, even the success of the development. Other is the rigid regulation in Turkey in operating the tourism. This gives bad impact; there is no simple system to accommodate demand and supply, directly, without rigid bureaucrats.