This activity estimates the greenhouse gas emissions from the tourism sector and helps focuses on issues of sustainable urban tourism in Vietnam and Thailand. 

Fast facts:

The problem

Tourism is cornerstone of many cities, generating not only employment but also underpinning local development. Although cities around the world make great efforts to attract tourists, they are also becoming overwhelmed by impacts of tourism - unsustainable resource consumption, congestion, greenhouse gas emissions, etc. Withstanding the environmental impact of tourism, many cities have shown increased interest to change course to sustainable urban tourism.   

The solution

Hue in Vietnam and Chiang Mai in Thailand are small and medium scale growing cities, where tourism is an important sector. Both cities are interested in moving towards low carbon development. The recommended mitigation options to reduce greenhouse gas emission and to create clean and decent jobs to the local people were ‘Non-Motorized Transport’ (NMT) in Chiang Mai and promoting ‘Garden Houses for Tourism’ in Hue. NMT will be developed in the ‘Three Kings Monument Square’ of Chiang Mai. A bicycle route has been proposed in the inner city of the municipality. Since this area is connected to major tourist destinations, the development of a bicycle route would provide an alternative mode of transport to historical places for tourists and would also provide job opportunities for locals. In Hue, garden houses will be built, which will lead to an increase in the number of jobs for local people.

Helping the planet

The implementation of these recommended mitigation options would not only reduce GHG emissions but also create green and decent jobs for the local people. More importantly, garden houses help reduce greenhouse gas emissions by acting as a carbon sink. At the city scale, the garden houses can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from freights carrying imported fruits and vegetables and by restricting motorized vehicles around the garden houses and promoting alternative transportation. Facilitating NMT, particularly walking and cycling, will directly reduce CO2 emissions which would have otherwise resulted from other modes of transportation.  

Helping people

Restricted motorized transport due to NMT implementation will provide opportunities for tourists and others to purchase handicrafts and other goods from local vendors thereby contributing to the local economy. Moreover, it generates income opportunities for cyclo drivers, bicycle shops, and related industries.  

Scaling Up

This activity hopes that the results obtained from the project and lessons learned can be utilized by other cities. They hope that the activity will help other cities showcase their efforts and also contribute to wider discussion on sustainable urban tourism.

• Preliminary estimates showed that implementing non-motorized transport (NMT) would reduce up to 570 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year within Chiang Mai municipality;
• Preliminary estimates showed that developing garden houses for touristic purpose would create additional income and also reduce up to 200 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per year of GHG emissions, if the garden houses are accompanied by NMT.

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