Towards a smoke-free tourism environment in Hai Duong

The bright spots

Last weekend, Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung from Le Chan District (Hai Phong) had the opportunity to visit Cao An Phu Temple (Kinh Mon, Hai Duong). When he entered the yard area, near the Dragon Eye Well, intending to light a cigarette, he was reminded by a staff member of the Relic Management Board. “I did not feel uncomfortable at all but happily complied. It was a good deed, showing professionalism and civilization in building a friendly tourism environment, leaving a good impression in the hearts of visitors,” said Mr. Dung.

Mr. Nguyen Van Hoc, Head of the Kinh Mon Town Relic Management Board, said that previously, according to regulations, the relic site only prohibited visitors from smoking in covered and walled worship areas. However, since the beginning of this year, the Cao An Phu Temple relic site has implemented a no-smoking regulation in the outside area as well. The Relic Management Board has placed a "No Smoking" sign right at the ticket gate for visitors to easily observe. The loudspeaker system in the area also regularly broadcasts the content: "Please do not smoke in the relic area"... According to the Relic Management Board, from January 1 to March 18, there were over 77,000 visitors to Cao An Phu Temple but there were no cases of tourists intentionally violating the regulation.

Not only tourist attractions, building a smoke-free environment at accommodation facilities is also very important to move towards a friendly environment. “Cigarette smoke easily smells and discolors furniture in the room such as curtains, carpets, sheets, pillows, air conditioners, tablecloths. No tourist wants to stay in a room that smells of cigarette smoke. Especially for non-smokers, they want to breathe fresh air, without dust or cigarette smoke,” said Mr. Nguyen Huu Hang Tam, Sales Director of Nam Cuong Tourism Service Joint Stock Company (Nam Cuong Hotel).

Therefore, since 2020, Nam Cuong Hotel has implemented a no-smoking policy in the hotel and restaurant areas. All employees here must set an example and remind guests who violate the policy. “Earlier this year, there was a case of a business being fined because an employee intentionally violated this policy during a party at our restaurant,” Mr. Tam added.

In addition to installing more than 200 “No Smoking” signs in all rooms and visible locations such as hallways, stairs, elevators, etc., Nam Cuong Hotel also has a separate smoking area for guests, with cigarette butt holders.

In addition to Cao An Phu Temple and Nam Cuong Hotel, there are also bright spots in implementing a smoke-free green tourism environment in Hai Duong such as: Con Son - Kiep Bac relic site, Dao Co eco-tourism area, Mao Dien Temple of Literature...

However, this is still a modest result in 19 provincial-level tourist areas and spots; 11 ranked hotels (from 1 to 4 stars); 6 homestays... of Hai Duong. There are not many establishments implementing this model due to lack of proper attention, many places believe that implementing a smoke-free tourism environment model is difficult to implement.

Localities, tourist spots and areas have only stopped at implementing a set of criteria for civilized behavior in public places (including the no-smoking criterion). Most tourist spots and areas have only stopped at propaganda and reminders for tourists. In particular, in many restaurants, perhaps due to the fear of affecting revenue, smoking is still common.

Need to replicate

In Southeast Asia, there is a network of smoke-free tourism cities with about 300 participating cities. In our country, there are cities that are leading the way in building a smoke-free tourism environment such as: Hoi An, Ha Long, Nha Trang, Hai Phong... These are all destinations that are loved by domestic and foreign tourists.

A smoke-free tourism environment is an effective measure to exercise the rights of non-smokers to breathe in fresh air, helping tourism workers and tourists reduce the risk of diseases caused by passive exposure to cigarette smoke. A smoke-free tourism environment also helps limit the risk of fire and explosion, especially in forested tourist areas and destinations such as Con Son - Kiep Bac, Cao An Phu Temple, etc.

Thus, it is necessary to replicate the smoke-free tourism model in Hai Duong. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Van, Vice Chairman of Ninh Giang District People's Committee said: "We have a full legal corridor necessary for both implementation mechanisms and measures to handle violations to implement regulations on banning smoking at tourist sites". This is the basis for localities and tourist establishments to implement smoke-free environments at their establishments.

Every citizen needs to raise awareness and sense of responsibility to preserve a clean tourism environment in tourist areas. "To effectively implement this model, in addition to the participation of functional agencies and tourist facilities... it also requires the active participation of the people. If each person does not smoke, the entire tourist area will be smoke-free," said Mr. Nguyen Van Ba, Chi Lang Nam commune (Thanh Mien).