That tourism development must be in tandem with the preservation of natural resources and the building of a healthy, cultural and civilised tourism environment is one of the targets Da Nang is striving to reach. In particular, importance should be attached to ensuring smoke-free environment in tourism service offering facilities.

The city is heading towards building a smoke-free tourism environment. Tourists are pictured visiting a Sun Group-invested attraction

Encouragingly, it is rare to see taxi drivers in the city smoking inside their cab whilst serving their passengers.

Mr Nguyen Van Hien, the General Director of the city-based Phu Hoang Transport Services Joint Stock Company, which operates Tien Sa Taxi, said, prior to be on duty, drivers are required to go through the company-launched train courses on communication skills, especially a prohibition on smoking while driving.

Mr Tran Van Dung, a Tien Sa taxi driver, emphasised a need for a driver to puff away on a cigarette whilst at the wheel. Smoking while driving should be banned due to the concerns of safety. In fact, along with the physical distraction, the ingredients of a cigarette cause mental change.  Therefore, “Building a smoke-free tourism environment is an effective way to implement the rights to breathe fresh air amongst non-smokers”, affirmed Dung.

In order to build a smoke-free tourism environment, in 2016, following instructions from the municipal government, the Department of Tourism started to urge restaurants, hotels and accommodation establishments across the city to strictly implement a ban on smoking.

Since then, “No smoking” signs have already been placed at many local tourist sites, relic sites, restaurants and hotels. Despite having their smoking rooms equipped with chairs, ashtrays and ventilation, many tourism facilities still discourage their staff members and clients from using cigarettes.

As a guest at a local hotel, Ms Phan Thi Hang from the capital city of Ha Noi, said, “During my trip to any destination, what I and other tourists most want is to breathe fresh, cool, dust-free, smoke-free atmosphere. This is the third time that I have come to Da Nang thanks to fresh air here, especially local residents and tourists as well are very aware of smoking restrictions in public places.

Mr Huynh Duc Trung, the Head of Travel Management Office of the municipal Department of Tourism, said his agency is joining forces with other relevant agencies to encourage more tourism service providers to build the smoke-free space there.

There is no denying that, not only does the building of a smoke-free tourism environment protect visitors’ health and minimise the risks of smoking-caused fires and explosions at local tourist sites, but it also contributes to building a civilised tourism environment for the sake of sustainable development.