I, Introduction

The "GreenTour" project aims to revolutionize the tourism

industry by integrating advanced technologies such as blockchain,
fintech, and artificial intelligence (AI) into sustainable travel
services. This initiative will not only make it easier for customers
to access eco-friendly tourism options but also create a
transparent and efficient ecosystem that encourages green
behaviors through rewards and incentives. The application seeks
to empower both tourists and service providers to make
environmentally conscious decisions, driving the future of
sustainable tourism in Vietnam and beyond. By collaborating
with Saigontourist, Vietnam’s leading travel company, the project
leverages an extensive network and deep commitment to
sustainable development, ensuring that this technological leap can
be implemented effectively at scale.

II, Objectives/ Goals of the project

1. General Objective: The goal is to develop a smart travel
application that helps customers easily select sustainable
tourism services while supporting businesses in efficiently
managing resources and encouraging environmentally
friendly behaviors through the use of advanced technologies
such as blockchain, fintech, and artificial intelligence
(AI).
2. Real-world Issues to Address: The GreenTour project aims
to tackle significant challenges in today’s tourism industry,
including:
○ Environmental pollution and unsustainable
resource use in tourism: Tourism is one of the major
sources of CO2 emissions and consumes a large
amount of resources such as water and energy.
 According to a report by UNWTO, global tourism
contributes to 8% of total greenhouse gas
emissions【Source: UNWTO Environmental
Impacts Report 2021】.
○ Lack of transparency in compliance with
sustainability standards: It is often difficult for
customers to determine whether tourism businesses are
adhering to sustainability standards. Furthermore,
sustainable certifications are often not publicly verified
or transparent, leading to a lack of trust from
customers.
○ Lack of incentives for users to choose green
services: While many customers wish to select
sustainable services, they often lack financial
motivation or specific incentives to change their
consumption behavior.
3. Key Measurable Objectives:
○ Reducing CO2 emissions: GreenTour will provide a
feature to track CO2 emissions from customers' trips.
The goal is to help users reduce their emissions by at
least 15% by selecting green-certified
services【Source: Sustainable Tourism Market
Forecast, Statista 2024】.
○ Encouraging green consumption: Developing an eco-
coins system, with a goal of increasing the number of
customers using green services by 20% within the first
year of implementation.
○ Improving resource management efficiency for
businesses: AI will be used to predict customer flow
and optimize energy consumption, helping businesses
like Saigontourist save at least 10-15% on energy
costs【Source: McKinsey AI and Resource
Management 2023】.
○ Enhancing transparency and management of green
certifications: Ensuring that all green certifications are
 recorded and verified on a blockchain platform,
increasing customer and international organizations'
trust in Saigontourist’s commitment to sustainable
development.
4. Key Focus Areas and Competitors:
○ Focus Area: GreenTour will focus on sustainable
tourism, a rapidly growing market with a projected
CAGR of 14.6% from 2023 to 2026【Source:
ResearchAndMarkets Sustainable Tourism
Report 2023】.
○ Competitors: Key competitors include major travel
apps like Booking.com, Expedia, and Airbnb.
However, these competitors have not heavily focused
on promoting sustainable tourism through the use of
blockchain, fintech, or AI. GreenTour will differentiate
itself by:
■ Using blockchain to authenticate and ensure
transparency in green certifications.
■ Creating a rewards system with eco-coins to
incentivize customers to choose sustainable
services.
■ Integrating AI to manage resources and optimize
energy consumption, helping businesses reduce
operating costs.
5. Industry-Related Issues: The tourism industry is under
significant pressure to develop sustainably due to the
growing demand for international travel. Many countries,
including Vietnam, are promoting sustainable strategies to
minimize the negative impacts on the environment and local
cultures. However, the lack of transparency and supportive
technology remains a major issue for both tourism
companies and customers.
The GreenTour project not only addresses problems related
to resource management and transparency in green
 standards but also creates value for stakeholders by
encouraging sustainable consumption.

III, Current State of Saigontourist

Saigontourist is Vietnam’s largest and most established travel
company, providing a wide range of services from travel tours to
hotels and restaurants. While the company is well-positioned to
lead the sustainable tourism movement, there are key areas where
it can improve through technological integration, which the
GreenTour project aims to address.
1. Commitment to Sustainability:
○ Saigontourist has made significant strides in
sustainable tourism practices by partnering with eco-
friendly businesses and adhering to green standards.
However, there is still room for improvement in
standardizing these practices across its vast network of
services.
2. Challenges in Resource Management:
○ Many of Saigontourist’s facilities, such as hotels and
resorts, rely on traditional methods of resource
management, which may lead to inefficiencies in water
and energy use. AI-powered solutions offered by
GreenTour can help optimize these processes, reducing
costs and environmental impact.
3. Technological Integration:
○ While Saigontourist is a leader in the industry, its
digital transformation in terms of adopting cutting-edge
technologies like blockchain and AI is still in its early
stages. The introduction of blockchain technology will
help verify sustainability claims across its partners, and
AI will enable smarter resource management.
4. Customer Engagement:
○ Saigontourist’s current customer engagement strategies
are effective, but there is potential for growth in terms
 of encouraging eco-conscious travel decisions. By
introducing eco-coins and tracking the carbon footprint
of trips, the GreenTour platform can inspire and reward
customers for choosing sustainable options.
5. Brand Image:
○ Saigontourist’s reputation as a sustainable tourism
leader will be further enhanced by participating in the
GreenTour initiative. By adopting blockchain for
transparency, the company can solidify its position as a
responsible and eco-friendly service provider, both
locally and internationally.

IV, Proposed Solution:

The GreenTour project is designed to effectively address the
environmental challenges in tourism and enhance users’
experience through innovative, sustainable travel solutions.
Below, the specific solutions are detailed with supporting data
and sources:
1. Core Features:
Smart GreenTour Application: The GreenTour app is crafted to
meet the increasing demand for eco-friendly travel solutions. It
provides both tourists and businesses with tools to make
sustainable decisions while enhancing operational efficiency. The
solutions provided by GreenTour are innovative in how they
integrate AI, blockchain, and fintech to promote sustainability.
2. Key Features:
Eco-friendly Travel Booking:
● AI-Powered Personalized Itineraries: AI tailors custom
travel itineraries based on user preferences, travel style,
budget, and environmental impact. AI's predictive models
 optimize for low-impact services, ensuring green travel
options are prioritized.
● Green-Certified Services: Users can book hotels, tours, and
transport that meet recognized sustainability certifications.
These green-certified services will be easy to identify,
offering verified sustainability standards.
● Comprehensive Destination Database: The app provides
detailed data on destinations (including entertainment,
culture, and history), ranking them based on sustainability
criteria like waste management, renewable energy use, and
community impact.
GREEN Certification:
● Certification for Businesses: GreenTour allows businesses to
register for green certification, ensuring they meet eco-
friendly criteria. These certifications are then displayed in
their profiles for user trust.
● Brand Building with Green Certifications: This feature
enables businesses to attract sustainability-conscious
customers by displaying their green achievements
transparently. It also helps identify areas where they can
further improve their sustainability efforts.
CO2 Emissions Tracking:
● Emission Calculation: A specific formula calculates the
CO2 emissions generated by trips, based on transport type
and travel distance. This feature enables users to become
more conscious of their environmental impact.
● Incentivizing Sustainable Travel: GreenTour motivates users
to select eco-friendly transportation options, reducing their
carbon footprint.
● Corporate Sustainability Data: Businesses can use CO2
emissions data to adjust their policies and services,
improving their environmental reputation and advancing
towards certification.
Eco-coins Payment System:
● Rewards and Discounts: Users earn Eco-coins as rewards
for eco-friendly travel choices. These coins can be redeemed
for discounts on services like hotel bookings, tours, or
transportation.
● Cashless Travel: Eco-coins can be used throughout the trip,
promoting a cashless and sustainable travel experience.
● Eco-coin Contributions: Users can donate Eco-coins to
environmental projects or non-profits, contributing directly
to global sustainability efforts.
Virtual Assistant with AI:
● AI Travel Support: The virtual assistant answers user
questions and provides information about sustainable travel
options.
● AI Resource Management: AI helps hotels and other service
providers optimize resource use (e.g., water, electricity) and
predict customer flows, reducing energy consumption and
operational costs.
Data Transparency:
● Business Information Transparency: Full information about
businesses, including licenses, green certifications, and
environmental commitments, is displayed for users. This
transparency fosters trust and accountability.
● Sustainability Reports: Periodic reports are available on
business sustainability performance, including energy
consumption, waste management, and community impact.
3. Technical Solutions:
Booking and Service Management:
 ● API Integration: GreenTour integrates existing booking
platforms like Booking.com and Airbnb through API to
offer users a seamless experience.
● User-Friendly Interface: The app features an intuitive
UI/UX design for optimal user experience, making it easy to
search, book, and track sustainability metrics.
Database Solutions:
● Relational Database: PostgreSQL or MySQL will handle
structured data, such as user accounts, services, and reviews.
● NoSQL Database: MongoDB will manage unstructured data
like comments and user feedback.
● Open Data Access: GreenTour will provide an API for
retrieving and analyzing public sustainability data,
enhancing research and third-party integration.
AI & Machine Learning:
● Natural Language Processing (NLP): Libraries such as
NLTK or spaCy will be used to develop AI-driven virtual
assistant capabilities.
● Machine Learning: ML models will improve itinerary
suggestions and analyze user behavior to personalize eco-
friendly options.
Blockchain for Eco-coins:
● Blockchain for Transparency: Blockchain ensures
transparency and security in managing Eco-coins and green
certifications.
● Automated Reward System: A custom algorithm will
calculate and automatically update users’ Eco-coins based
on their activities, ensuring fairness and security.
CO2 Emission Tracking:
 ● Emission Calculations: Predefined formulas will calculate
CO2 emissions based on transportation modes and distances.
● API Access: GreenTour will develop an API for accessing
external data sources to enhance emission tracking accuracy.
4. Commercial Solution:
Target Customers: The GreenTour project focuses on
environmentally conscious customers, particularly
younger generations such as Millennials and Gen Z.
According to a survey by Booking.com, 81% of
global travelers want travel service providers to
increase sustainable travel options【Source:
Booking.com Sustainable Travel Report 2021】.
Vietnam had over 18 million international tourists in
2024 and a domestic market with 85 million tourists,
highlighting the immense potential for sustainable
tourism【Source: Vietnam National Administration of
Tourism】.
Competitiveness: Compared to conventional travel
applications, GreenTour uses blockchain, fintech
(eco-coins), and AI to provide a transparent,
resource-saving tourism platform that promotes
environmentally friendly behavior. Other services in
the market have yet to strongly integrate these
technologies. The eco-coin system incentivizes
users to return to the service, similar to the loyalty
points systems of major airlines and hotels【Source:
Forbes Travel Loyalty Programs】.
Marketing and Pricing Strategy: GreenTour will implement a
Freemium strategy, allowing users to access basic features for
free, while advanced features will be offered as paid services.
Marketing campaigns will focus on raising awareness of the
benefits of sustainable tourism and the eco-coin reward system.
5. Market Feasibility:
Market Demand:
● According to a survey by Booking.com, 87% of
global travelers express a desire to travel more
sustainably, while 55% are willing to pay more
for sustainable services【Source: Booking.com
2023 Sustainable Travel Survey】.
● Target Market: Younger generations, especially
Generation Z, are increasingly concerned with
sustainability when choosing travel options. This
shift in demand will drive the growth of eco-
friendly travel【Source: Deloitte 2024 Travel
Insights】.
6. Risk Assessment:
Technological Risks:
1. Data Security: Collecting and storing user data poses
security risks. GreenTour will adopt encryption and
blockchain technologies to secure user information.
2. Stability and Scalability: The app must be able to handle a
large volume of users without interruptions. GreenTour will
use cloud-based infrastructure to ensure reliability and
scalability.
Legal Risks:
1. Compliance with Regulations: GreenTour must comply with
regulations on data privacy (e.g., GDPR) and local tourism
laws.
2. Partnership Policies: Collaborating with local authorities
and tourism businesses may present challenges, requiring
clear agreements and mutual benefits.
V. Social Contribution and Impact:
1. Social Contribution and Impact:
GreenTour’s influence is not restricted to solely economic
benefits but also significant advancements in terms of
environment, society and community education.
a. Environmental conservation:
- Reduced carbon dioxide emissions: GreenTour guides tourists to
environmentally friendly options based on its tracking of CO2
emissions from trips. The optimized itinerary can curb emissions
by at least 15-20% for each journey compared to traditional
services. [Source: UNWTO 2021].
- Promoting sustainable resources consumption: AI application in
operating hotels helps save energy and water. Each hotel can
reduce 10-15% of energy consumption through data-driven
adjustments based on guest traffic, according to estimation.
[Source: McKinsey AI in Tourism 2023]. This feature relieves the
burdens on both the environment and businesses’ operating costs.
b. Sustainable consumption awareness:
- Eco-coins reward system: When tourists use services that meet
the standards, they will receive eco-coins that can be used for
future trips, which in turn encourages them to choose
environmentally beneficial services. The goal is to increase the
number of users of green services by 20% after the first year of
implementation.
- Community education: GreenTour provides users with detailed
information about resource consumption and carbon footprint,
contributing to a heightened awareness of environmental
protection. This can foster a positive change in the approach
toward consumption and travel.
c. Saigontourist and the tourism industry:
- Improve Saigontourist’s sustainability commitment:
Saigontourist will assert its leadership in sustainable tourism in
Vietnam through the application of GreenTour. The company's
image will be significantly elevated in the eyes of
environmentally conscious customers, attracting more eco-aware
clientele.
- Expanding the partner network: Saigontourist's ecosystem will
become more diverse by collaborating with various certified
partners, thereby promoting the establishment of a sustainable
supply chain throughout Vietnam's tourism industry.
2. Major benefactors:
a. Tourists:
- Sustainable travel experience: Customers can easily choose
extensive green travel services through the app. They can enjoy
environmentally friendly trips and earn eco-coins for future use.
- Understanding their impact: The emission tracking feature
educates customers to become more aware of their travel
behaviors, enabling them to lower their negative impact on the
environment.
b. Saigontourist:
- Enhancing brand reputation: Saigontourist will be recognized
as a pioneer in sustainable tourism, attracting a large number of
domestic and international customers. Reports indicate that
demand for sustainable tourism is growing at a CAGR of 14.6%,
highlighting the significant growth potential in this sector for the
company. [Source: ResearchAndMarkets Sustainable Tourism
Report 2023].
- Optimizing costs: With AI support for predicting guest flow and
managing resources, Saigontourist can save on energy, water, and
other resource costs remarkably, reducing operational expenses
by 10-15% [Source: McKinsey AI and Resource Management
2023].
c. Society:
- Encouraging sustainable consumption: With the rise of green
services and products, GreenTour will drive changes in how
people consume and travel. This contributes to global emission
reduction goals and protects natural resources, creating long-term
benefits for society.
- Creating new jobs in the green tech sector: The implementation
and development of this app will generate many new job
opportunities in green technology, AI, fintech, and blockchain,
while also fostering innovation in the tourism industry.