Long-term responsibility, sustainable benefits – Quang Binh

(QBĐT) – From support programs such as “Quang Binh people contribute fish to Ho Chi Minh City” to helping people affected by natural disasters, supporting the community… Quang Binh tourism businesses have persistently carried out meaningful social missions over the past years. These actions are not only practical sharing but also leave a deep impression, demonstrating community responsibility, the strong connection between tourism and the sustainable development of society and locality.

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In August 8, the Covid-2021 pandemic continued to attack Ho Chi Minh City, causing a large number of people in the city to suffer from food and basic necessities shortages due to strict lockdown measures. At that time, despite facing numerous difficulties in business activities, the Quang Binh Tourism Club quickly initiated the program “Quang Binh people contribute fish to Ho Chi Minh City”.

The enthusiasm, youthfulness and creativity of the club members have spread the spirit, creating consensus and response from many businesses, organizations and individuals accompanying the program. After a period of launching, the program has sent dozens of tons of fresh fish, a specialty of Quang Binh sea, to Ho Chi Minh City. In the midst of the pandemic, Quang Binh sea fish, a gift rich in the flavor of the homeland, has traveled thousands of kilometers to reach people in the locked-down areas. Those tons of fish are both a material gift and at the same time carry a profound message of sharing and contributing to support the city’s people to overcome difficulties in the most difficult times.

After the pandemic, the difficulty is not only restarting business activities, but also renewing products and finding their own position on the tourism map. That requirement requires businesses to brace themselves and make efforts with their own efforts. In that cycle, Quang Binh tourism businesses still do not forget to take on their own responsibility to shoulder and share difficulties with the community. When storm No. 3 (Yagi) made landfall in the northern provinces and cities in September 9, Quang Binh tourism businesses continued to join hands and share love.

Standing on the land that often suffers from natural disasters and floods, they understand the difficulties and hardships that people and the business community in the northern provinces have to endure due to storms and floods. After only 2 days of calling on social media platforms, the business community in Quang Binh has raised 153 million VND. This amount was transferred to the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front to promptly support people after storm No. 3. Many restaurants and accommodation establishments are also ready to provide free meals and rooms for relief teams on their way to support the northern provinces.

Pioneers

As soon as storm No. 3 passed, more than 60 volunteers who are people working in tourism in Phong Nha town (Bo Trach) traveled more than 600km to support the people of Yen Bai province in cleaning up after the fierce flood. With experience, health, and resilience, volunteers from the “flood center” of Quang Binh quickly cleaned up the consequences of the flood, helping the people of Yen Bai soon stabilize their lives. Before the sweat had subsided, they returned to Quang Binh to prepare with their hometown people to welcome storm No. 4.

As one of the first units to head north right after Typhoon Yagi hit, Jungle Boss Company Limited (Bo Trach) quickly formed a volunteer team to help people in Hai Phong City clean up and overcome the consequences of the storm. In the following days, the second group continued to travel to Yen Bai province to help people overcome the consequences of the floods.

“Although we have experienced many historic storms and floods, witnessing the devastation caused by the storm in the two localities still makes us feel heartbroken. Living conditions are still lacking, but we encourage each other to overcome difficulties to help people quickly stabilize their lives. There are places where, although the floodwaters have receded, there is a layer of mud more than 1 meter high, requiring a lot of effort and using all of our flood control experience to carry out,” said Mr. Le Phi Hung, Tour Director, Jungle Boss Company Limited.

Long-term social responsibility

Not only providing short-term support in urgent situations, many tourism businesses in Quang Binh are also committed to implementing long-term programs towards sustainable community development.

Officially put into operation since 2019, the Chua Me Dat Community Support Fund (Oxalis Foundation), established by Oxalis Company Limited, has implemented many meaningful community programs. As a non-profit organization, Oxalis Foundation was established with the aim of supporting and encouraging educational development, helping the community, developing careers, developing infrastructure and welfare works, and supporting overcoming difficulties caused by natural disasters within Quang Binh province.

With that good purpose, in recent years, Oxalis Foundation has carried out many important and humane projects, such as: Building Doong village school, building outdoor libraries for students in disadvantaged areas, awarding thousands of scholarships each year, building 90 flood-proof floating houses for people living in Tan Hoa commune (Minh Hoa), opening swimming classes, training in drowning prevention skills for free for about 200 students each year… In addition, Oxalis Foundation also carries out many emergency support activities due to natural disasters, storms, floods or epidemics for people in the province.

Mr. Nguyen Chau My, Deputy General Director of Oxalis Company Limited, said that Oxalis Foundation’s activities are usually planned from the beginning of the year. The fund’s funding is mainly drawn from the profits of Oxalis Adventure, member companies and from the sale of clothing and trekking accessories. Oxalis Foundation does not call for or receive donations from outside sources for its activities, but only receives contributions from customers participating in Oxalis tours to support pre-planned activities. Oxalis Foundation not only focuses on financial support but also actively participates in educational development and environmental protection programs. This is both immediate support and a long-term investment, helping future generations of poor rural areas have the opportunity to change their lives. This clearly demonstrates Oxalis’s point of view: Tourism development must go hand in hand with the sustainable development of the community and nature.

Having overcome difficulties from the “waves” of pandemics, natural disasters, and marine environmental incidents, more than anyone else, Quang Binh tourism businesses clearly realize that the prosperity of tourism cannot be separated from the sustainable development of society and of course, sustainable benefits must be associated with long-term responsibility. The contributions of Quang Binh tourism businesses are not simply voluntary work, but also demonstrate social responsibility and concern for the common interests of the whole community.

Dieu Huong