European Commission/Cardno Emerging Markets Ltd - Final Evaluation of the Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme -2016

Project Description:

The mission is the final evaluation of the EC-funded Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development Programme (ESRT Programme in Vietnam). The overall project objective was: "To mainstream responsible tourism principles into Vietnam’s tourism sector to enhance competitiveness and contributing to achieving the Socio Economic Development Plan (SEDP)."

The programme worked in three key component areas:

(1) Policy Support and Institutional Strengthening

(2) Product Competitiveness and Public-Private Dialogue

(3) Vocational Training and Education.

The main objective of the Final Evaluation was to review project progress, to check results against targets, and to provide a clear and concise opinion and assessment whether the progamme has met its objectives. In this respect the mission assessed the relevance, efficiency, effectiveness, impact and sustainability of the ESRT programme related to its stated purpose and expected results, in accordance with EC evaluation guidelines. By identifying weaknesses and challenges, the evaluation helped the European Commission Delegation and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to assess the impact of the programme as well as consider lessons learnt.