Tourism Innovators: HaUI youth driving green tourism Initiatives

On the evening of November 26, the final round of the Tourism Innovators competition, organized by the Faculty of Tourism at the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, showcased a vibrant blend of traditional arts and green tourism ideas. The event conveyed a strong message about the future of sustainable tourism, emphasizing responsibility towards the environment and local communities.

Tourism Innovators – Launchpad for HaUI youth’s green tourism ideas

In the first stage of the final round, the competing teams delivered creative artistic performances, blending acting, dance, and traditional opera to tell stories about responsible tourism. The performances created an engaging and contemporary atmosphere, bringing traditional arts closer to young audiences.

One performance depicted a group of young friends reenacting the consequences of littering on a beach, with marine creatures “speaking out” to warn about environmental pollution. Another took the audience on a journey through Hanoi’s Old Quarter, presenting contrasting perspectives: one side highlighting over-commercialization and tourists being overcharged, while the other celebrated efforts to preserve traditional houses, streets, crafts, and the refined lifestyle of Hanoians.

Other stories were set in Kim Bong woodworking village in Quang Nam, where students portrayed young tourists exploring the craft village, meeting artisans, experiencing production processes, and learning about concerns over preserving the craft and the village. Each story concluded with a strong affirmation of the students’ commitment to support local communities in heritage preservation and the development of community-based tourism.

The teams impressed the audience with creative artistic performances, combining acting, dance, and traditional opera to tell compelling stories about responsible tourism

The second stage of the competition was the knowledge round, featuring multiple-choice and essay questions on topics such as sustainable tourism, responsible tourism, heritage preservation, and the application of digital transformation in tourism. Through this round, the teams demonstrated their expertise, analytical thinking, and ability to apply specialized knowledge to practical scenarios.

Round two kept audiences on edge with engaging multiple-choice and essay challenges

The highlight of the final round was the presentation and defense of four highly creative and technology-driven projects before the judging panel. Each project offered a unique approach, yet all shared a common focus on technology application, sustainability, and integration with local culture: Memory Silk of Ha Thanh (a green tourism initiative combining AR/VR to preserve the Old Quarter); OceanHands (a green tourism website promoting marine environmental protection); Cheo Dua Cheo (blending traditional Cheo opera with modern remix music); and AI for Heritage (using VR/AI to reconstruct Kim Bong Woodworking Village).

These four projects marked the pinnacle of the final night, showcasing the students’ technological proficiency, creativity, and insightful perspectives on sustainable tourism.

At the conclusion of the program, the Organizing Committee presented awards to the outstanding teams:

Dr. Nguyễn Phương Thảo, Dean of the Faculty of Tourism at the School of Foreign Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Lê Anh Tuấn, former Deputy Director of the Department of Science, Technology, Training, and Environment under the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, presented the First Prize to the Phù Điêu Số team.

Mr. Kim Young Sub, Head of the Admissions Office at the Institute for International Cooperation, Jeonju University (South Korea), together with Ms. Nguyễn Hồng Vân, Head of the Tour Guidance Department, Hanoi Branch of Saigontourist Travel Services Co., Ltd., presented the Second Prize to the Sắc Chèo team.

Dr. Nguyễn Thị Hồng Vân, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Tourism, School of Foreign Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, and Mr. Phạm Hải Quỳnh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI) and former President of the Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC), presented the Third Prize to the Hương Tràng An team and the Tinh Thể Xanh team.

The Organizing Committee and sponsors presented 21 scholarships and laptops to students of the Faculty of Tourism. This meaningful support serves as an encouragement, motivating the students to continue striving in their studies, developing their skills, and pursuing innovative ideas in the future.

By combining traditional arts, social responsibility, and modern technology, Tourism Innovators has become a launchpad for creative ideas in the tourism sector. The competition highlighted the pioneering spirit of students from the Faculty of Tourism, School of Foreign Languages and Tourism, Hanoi University of Industry, in protecting the environment, preserving traditional cultural values, and contributing to the development of Vietnam’s tourism industry towards a green, smart, and sustainable direction.