Conservation Management, Tourism Resource Exploitation and Environmental Protection

The province is responsible for completing the dossier to submit to the General Department of Tourism. The General Department of Tourism will appraise and submit to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism for a decision on recognition.

The 2017 Law on Tourism also clearly stipulates the granting of operating licenses to tourism businesses, including businesses providing travel services, accommodation services, catering services and other additional services for tourists. Accordingly, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Tourism) of the province is responsible for appraising the application for granting, amending, supplementing, re-issuing, extending and revoking licenses to establish representative offices of foreign tourism businesses located in the province; application for international travel business licenses of businesses in the province; appraising the application for granting, re-issuing, exchanging and revoking tour guide cards; granting and revoking tour guide certificates according to regulations; classifying accommodation establishments (from 3 stars or less) including hotels, tourist villages; villas, tourist apartments; camping grounds; tourist motels; tourist areas; tourist attractions; tourist routes; other tourist accommodation establishments; Granting signs of meeting tourist service standards to tourism service establishments in tourist areas and tourist attractions in the province according to the provisions of law.

In addition, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Tourism) is also responsible for issuing tourism training certificates to crew members, boat drivers, and service staff on inland waterway vehicles; drivers and service staff on tourist passenger transport vehicles; coordinating with the Department of Transport in issuing signs and managing the business of transporting tourists by car and inland waterway vehicles; coordinating with the Provincial Monument Management Board in exploiting and promoting the value of monuments in tourism activities; coordinating with the Department's inspectorate and relevant sectors in guiding, inspecting, and handling violations in the tourism sector.

2.2.3.7. Management of conservation, exploitation of tourism resources and environmental protection

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To ensure the goal of sustainable tourism development, in each locality, the exploitation of natural resources must always go hand in hand with conservation, and the management and conservation of tourism resources by local state management agencies plays an extremely important role.

The content of management of conservation and exploitation of local natural resources includes investigation, assessment, classification, and construction of a database on natural resources of the province; advising on the implementation of measures to exploit, use and promote natural resources, and protect the environment in tourism activities in the province. This work is directly carried out by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Tourism) of the province.

TNDL investigation is carried out through relevant documents and texts and combined with field investigations of geographical locations, tourist attractions, and tourist supply centers.

providing and attracting tourists, advantages and difficulties in coordinating with localities and tourism development capabilities, terrain, climate, favorable/unfavorable factors for tourism activities and seasonality in exploitation, etc.

Assessment of tourism resources includes assessment of each type of resource in terms of quantity, quality, exploitation and protection status, tourism development capacity and overall assessment of the province's tourism resources in terms of attractiveness, convenience, tourism operation time, capacity, sustainability, and compatibility with other subsystems in the territory.

On the basis of implementing activities to investigate and evaluate the value of natural resources, take active measures to maintain and promote the value of these natural resources.

According to the 2017 Law on Tourism, the provincial People's Committee and relevant state agencies are responsible for coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (in charge) to investigate, evaluate and classify natural resources to serve as a basis for tourism planning; manage, protect, restore, reasonably exploit and promote the value of natural resources. Agencies, organizations, individuals and communities managing natural resources are responsible for protecting, investing in and restoring natural resources, creating favorable conditions for tourists to visit and enjoy the value of natural resources; coordinate with competent state management agencies on tourism in protecting and exploiting natural resources for other economic purposes. Tourists, organizations and individuals doing tourism business, and communities are responsible for protecting natural resources.

One of the important tasks to both effectively exploit and preserve natural resources is the issue of managing the carrying capacity of tourist sites and areas. According to the World Tourism Organization, the carrying capacity of a destination is the maximum level of use or tourism that the destination can absorb (accept) without causing destruction of the natural environment and socio-economic issues and at the same time not reducing the quality and experience of visitors. According to author Ngo Dieu An (Tourism Overview textbook, 2014), the carrying capacity of a destination can be divided into 4 types: physical capacity, psychological capacity (cognition), biological capacity and social capacity.

According to the model of the relationship between tourism revenue and tourist arrivals (see Figure 2.1), the maximum number of visitors that a tourist destination can receive is B (or the capacity limit at the tourist destination). If the number of visitors increases below B, tourism revenue will increase proportionally. However, when it exceeds B, meaning the destination is overloaded, revenue will decrease (inversely proportional to the number of visitors). The nature of tourism revenue in this case is relative revenue. When the number of visitors exceeds B, actual tourism revenue may increase but it is not enough to offset the costs that the tourist destination has to pay to receive that number of visitors, such as

environmental costs, negative cultural and social impacts of uncontrolled visitor numbers, etc.

Figure 2.1. Model of the relationship between tourism revenue and number of tourists (Source: Quang Hung - Article Tourism capacity - an important factor in tourism development posted on the website of the General Department of Tourism, 2015)

Therefore, in addition to exploiting tourism, managing the capacity of the destination is extremely necessary. The nature of managing the capacity of the destination is to control the number of tourists corresponding to the maximum capacity of the identified tourist destination. Based on calculating the maximum capacity of the tourist destination, that is, the maximum number of tourists that the tourist destination can receive at a time, the provincial authorities need to have preventive measures to control the number of tourists, such as: Controlling the number of tourists by the scale of infrastructure, tourism service facilities (related to the number of accommodation establishments, transportation service establishments, food service establishments, etc.); controlling the number of tourists by regulating the time to access the tourist destination (entry time, exit time) or the number of tickets sold per day;...

2.2.3.8. Human resource development management, application of science and technology in tourism development

Managing the development of local tourism human resources is to clearly define training requirements, responsibilities of parties involved in the training process, training organization methods, content, time, budget and training effectiveness. The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Department of Tourism) is the focal point for coordinating with training institutions, developing and advising the provincial People's Committee on tourism human resource training plans suitable for their locality.

Training forms and methods need to be organized in a variety of ways, suitable for each training target, including management staff at tourism management agencies, representatives of tourism businesses and local communities. Each target has different characteristics, so training forms and methods need to be

separately. Training content also needs to be developed appropriately for each subject such as training to improve management capacity for state management officers, managers, and research experts; training to raise awareness of how to do tourism, basic operations, management methods, and preserving cultural values, etc. for the community; training in professional skills for tourism businesses.

To carry out training and development of local tourism human resources, local tourism management agencies need to consolidate, arrange, improve the capacity and training quality of existing training facilities, develop specialized training facilities; have a plan to coordinate with universities and colleges that provide tourism training to open many training classes to improve the qualifications of the above-mentioned identified subjects.

In addition to human resource development management, in order for local tourism to develop in line with the development of tourism in the region and the world, the application of science and technology in tourism development is extremely necessary. The application of science and technology in tourism development has many different levels, from the use of technology applications in tourism business, building electronic tourism information data systems, solutions for developing smart tourism, etc. The application of science and technology in tourism development is considered a breakthrough solution to create advantages in attracting visitors, improving customer experience, contributing to improving competitiveness and international integration. However, the application of science and technology with the formation and management of an extremely large electronic data system also poses a major problem related to network security - which is also an extremely complex and sensitive issue. Therefore, state management agencies need to have strict management measures, with clear regulations and directions.

2.2.3.9. Organizing inspections, investigations, resolving complaints and denunciations and handling violations in tourism development

Inspection and examination to resolve complaints, denunciations and handle violations in local tourism are activities of competent local state agencies in relation to agencies, organizations and individuals in compliance with tourism laws. This is an important content of state management work to promote compliance with legal regulations, protect the interests of the State, and the legitimate rights and interests of parties participating in tourism contracts.

The central tourism management agency is responsible for directing and coordinating with local authorities at all levels to organize and conduct tourism inspections nationwide. Local authorities and functional departments proactively conduct inspections of tourism activities in their localities.

Tourism development can give rise to many problems such as planning violations, landscape destruction, environmental pollution, even issues related to national security and defense, issues that disrupt local cultural foundations, delays and violations in the investment and development process causing socio-economic damage, etc. Therefore, inspection, examination, and settlement of complaints and denunciations play an important role.

Regularly organize inspections, reviews and assessments of the implementation of legal documents on tourism. Monitor the activities of all entities participating in tourism contracts as well as their management regimes; detect deviations, risks of deviation or violations of the law and regulations of the State. Check the legality of the existence of tourist sites and areas and the conditions to ensure reception and service of tourists in order to rectify tourism contracts to develop in the right direction, promoting national cultural identity. Check tourist sites and areas to ensure good conditions of infrastructure, human resources, security and safety conditions to serve the tourism needs of tourists.

Inspection is the examination, assessment and handling of violations in the implementation of the law by organizations and individuals in PTDL activities. The purpose of inspection activities is to detect loopholes in management mechanisms, policies and laws in order to recommend to competent state agencies remedial measures; prevent, detect and handle violations of the law; help agencies, organizations and individuals comply with legal provisions; promote positive factors; contribute to improving the effectiveness and efficiency of state management activities; protect the interests of the State, the rights and legitimate interests of agencies, organizations and individuals.

Regarding the work of handling complaints and denunciations against subjects participating in PTDL, there must be clear regulations on the department receiving complaints and denunciations, time for receiving people, and time for responding to complaints and denunciations.

Handling administrative violations or being prosecuted for criminal liability, if causing damage, must compensate according to the law of organizations and individuals who violate the law on tourism.

2.2.4. Criteria for evaluating state management of tourism development at provincial level

In the process of provincial-level local governments performing their role of state management of tourism development in the province, it is necessary to regularly evaluate to know the successes and limitations as well as the causes in order to make appropriate adjustments. To evaluate the state management of provincial-level local governments for tourism development in the province, it is necessary to have evaluation criteria. Evaluation criteria are standards and signs that serve as a basis for researchers.

based on which to analyze, evaluate and draw conclusions on the implementation of the set goals. In other words, the assessment and review of the level of completion of the goals is carried out through measuring the criteria. In this thesis, the researcher uses the evaluation criteria based on the model of the criteria for evaluating public administration of the Asian Development Bank (Serving and Maintaining: Improving Public Administration in a Competitive World, 2003) including effectiveness, efficiency, rationality and sustainability. On the basis of the general criteria, theoretical development proposed by the authors Dao Anh Tuan (2013), Nguyen Anh Tu (2015), Nguyen Hong Phu (2018), associated with the content of state management of provincial-level local authorities for tourism development in the province, the researcher has established a system of criteria for evaluating state management of tourism development of a provincial locality through surveying the opinions of experts in the field of tourism. Accordingly, the State management of tourism development of a provincial locality is assessed through criteria on the effectiveness, efficiency, suitability and sustainability of State management activities of tourism development, specifically as follows:

2.2.4.1. The effectiveness of state management activities in tourism development

The effectiveness of State management refers to the level of compliance with the law and execution of all instructions from State management agencies by the management subjects; at the same time, it represents the level of implementation of State power by State management agencies and the prestige of State management agencies towards the management subjects.

For the tourism sector of a locality, the effectiveness of state management is reflected in the level of compliance of management subjects (including travel businesses, local residents and tourists) with legal documents, compliance with all policies, plans, programs, decisions and directives from local state management agencies on tourism and the level of implementation of state power as well as the prestige of those agencies.

The effectiveness of State management of tourism development of a provincial locality is assessed through the following system of indicators:

(1) Level of compliance with regulations in organizing the implementation of local tourism strategies, planning, plans, and policies;

(2) Level of compliance in the implementation of tourism legal documents developed and issued under local authority;

(3) The tourism legal system is built and issued under local authority in a complete, synchronous, public and transparent manner;

(4) Local policies to attract investment in tourism are public and transparent;

(5) Local procedures for appraising tourism investment projects are strict and legal;

(6) Procedures for recognizing tourist areas and destinations and granting tourism business licenses by localities are clear, public, and transparent;

(7) The local policy on conservation, exploitation of tourism resources and protection of tourism environment is clear, complete and consistent;

(8) Have a clear orientation on the application of science and technology in local tourism development;

(9) The forms of handling violations in local PTDL are highly deterrent.

2.2.4.2. The effectiveness of state management activities in tourism development

The effectiveness of an activity is assessed by comparing the actual results achieved with the costs incurred to achieve those results. The effectiveness of state management is the result of management and operation of the state apparatus achieved in correlation with the costs incurred, input resources, in the relationship between economic efficiency and political efficiency and social efficiency.

In the tourism sector, the effectiveness of state management of tourism development of a locality is shown through indicators of the increase in the number of tourists, tourism income, number of workers in the tourism sector, the level of contribution of tourism to GRDP,... of that locality over time.

The effectiveness of State management of tourism development of a provincial locality is assessed through the following system of indicators:

(1) Level of completion of tasks in organizing the implementation of strategies, planning, plans, and policies on tourism development;

(2) The tourism legal system is built and issued according to authority to facilitate localities in tourism development;

(3) The organization of the provincial tourism management apparatus is effective;

(4) Coordination between sectors in managing tourism activities in the province meets requirements;

(5) The level of efficiency and quality of local tourism investment projects;

(6) Policies to promote the development of attractive and effective local tourism markets;

(7) The quality of local tourist areas, attractions and tourism businesses is increasingly improved;

(8) Local tourism resources are preserved and effectively exploited in tourism development;

(9) The quantity and quality of locally trained tourism workers are increasingly improved;

(10) Applying science and technology effectively in local tourism development;

(11) There is a tendency to reduce complaints, denunciations and violations in local PTDL.

2.2.4.3. Suitability of state management for tourism development

The suitability of State management for tourism development at the provincial level is the criterion to assess the suitability and feasibility of State management of provincial-level local authorities for tourism development in the province in the work of planning, organizing implementation, inspecting and supervising tourism development activities to ensure suitability with the inherent conditions of the province.

Accordingly, the State management of provincial-level local authorities on provincial tourism development must ensure appropriateness in terms of impact content, impact objects, and impact methods.

The suitability of State management for tourism development of a provincial locality is assessed through the following system of indicators:

(1) Methods of organizing the implementation of strategies, planning, plans, and tourism policies suitable to local conditions;

(2) The tourism legal system is developed and issued according to the authority appropriate to the local characteristics;

(3) The number of local tourism management staff is reasonable;

(4) Identify local tourist markets suitable to local development conditions in each period;

(5) Management, conservation, exploitation of natural resources and protection of local tourism environment in accordance with local conditions;

(6) Appropriate forms of organization of inspection, examination, settlement of complaints, denunciations and handling of violations in local PTDL.

2.2.4.4. Sustainability of state management activities for tourism development

The sustainability of state management activities for tourism development of provincial localities is a criterion to assess the level of long-term application of policies, regulations, decisions, plans, etc. of provincial authorities in tourism development of that locality.

In addition, the sustainability of state management of tourism development at the provincial level is also reflected in the assurance of environmental issues, protection of natural resources (natural resources and cultural resources), and preservation of culture and lifestyle of indigenous people.

The sustainability of state management of tourism development of a provincial locality is assessed through the following system of indicators:

(1) The tourism legal system is built and issued under local authority and is applied stably and long-term;