International Responsible Tourism Workshop Ninh Binh 2026 opens

The workshop is jointly organised by the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University, Hanoi; the Institute for the Conservation and Development of Traditional Culture; Responsible Borneo (REBORN); the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism; and Tam Chuc National Tourism Area.

Held under the theme “Positioning and Promoting Heritage Values in Ninh Binh: Participatory Planning and Content Co-creation through Responsible Tourism,” the two-day event brings together more than 70 delegates, including 30 international scholars and experts from 10 countries and 40 Vietnamese participants.

In her opening remarks, Associate Professor Dr. Dang Thi Thu Huong, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said the conference theme addressed a fundamental challenge facing modern tourism development.

Ninh Binh, a land steeped in thousands of years of history and culture, is home to the Trang An Landscape Complex - a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cuc Phuong National Park and the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve. These assets offer the province significant opportunities to become a leading heritage tourism destination in the region.

However, she noted that tourism development also raises critical questions: How can economic value be increased without compromising the authenticity of heritage? How can visitors be encouraged not merely to visit but also to understand and contribute to its preservation? And, most importantly, how can local communities—the rightful custodians of their heritage—be placed at the centre of tourism development, ensuring they share in its benefits and become proud ambassadors of their culture?

To explore these questions, participating experts undertook field visits to Cuc Phuong National Park, where they learned about conservation efforts at three rescue centres. They also paid tribute to the nation's ancestors and engaged in cultural exchanges at the ancient capital of Hoa Lu, before experiencing a community-based sampan boat trip in the Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve.

These field experiences provided a valuable foundation for in-depth discussions, enabling delegates to draw on practical insights and contribute to evidence-based approaches to responsible tourism.

The conference features several methodologies, including Participatory Planning, Responsible Storytelling, Photovoice and the Responsible Tourism Scale (RT Scale). The emphasis on co-creation is intended to help transform heritage assets into drivers of sustainable development while ensuring that local communities have a meaningful role in shaping tourism narratives and experiences.

Speaking at the event, Pham Duy Phong, Deputy Director of the Ninh Binh Department of Tourism, stressed that as the tourism sector continues to expand, the priority must extend beyond effectively leveraging natural and cultural resources.

Tourism development must also safeguard heritage, protect the environment, preserve cultural identity and ensure that local communities benefit equitably, he said. These principles are central to the province's sustainable tourism development strategy.

Through fieldwork, professional exchanges and policy discussions, Ninh Binh hopes the conference will generate scientifically grounded, practical solutions that can be applied to local tourism management and development.

Running from October 28 to 29, the workshop will feature in-depth co-creation sessions aimed at addressing the challenge of balancing tourism-driven economic growth with the conservation of the Trang An Landscape Complex, Cuc Phuong National Park and Van Long Wetland Nature Reserve.

The event also seeks to contribute to the implementation of the Politburo’s Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW on developing Vietnamese tourism into a key economic sector in the new era, while supporting the United Nations' designation of 2027 as the International Year of Sustainable and Resilient Tourism./.