Exploiting potential development of community tourism

11/14/2017 - 10:20:18 AM

(HBO) - With advantages of natural conditions and cultural diversities of Muong, Thai, Mong, Dao ethnics, our province has many good conditions to develop community tourism. The community tourism has been developed quite early, which means that it gets some effective results and contributes in increasing the local people’s living conditions.

Giang Mo Hamlet in Binh Thanh commune (Cao Phong) attracts lots of tourists by over 100 original stilt houses and attractive cultural identities and customs of Muong ethnic people.

Lac Hamlet of Chieng Chau commune (Mai Chau) is one of the places which have developed the provincial community tourism so early. When talking to us, Mr. Ha Cong Tim, the host of the guesthouse No.7 in Lac tourist destination shared: With beautiful natural scenery and long- lasting Thai ethnic culture, Lac Hamlet has been visited by local and international tourists for a long time. But in 1993, the hamlet was officially approved to carry out community tourism with 2 households. There were up to 5 households in 1995 and 15 households in 1997. To meet the increasing demand of visitors, by the end of 2016, the hamlet had 58 households implementing community tourism. Lac tourist destination has been developing better than the other ones. As an agricultural hamlet, people here are still doing the farming, besides; making tourism services has changed their lives. The face of the hamlet has been developed much more than before.

In the recent years, not only in Lac hamlet but also in other remote areas, exploiting the potential of ecotourism associated with cultural tourism has brought conditions to develop economy and increase the income for many households and people. According to an incomplete statistics, there are about 100 households in the province developing homestay tourism. Many tourist destinations have been well-known and highly appreciated such as Lac community tourist destination with ASEAN-standard qualified guestrooms (according to the standards built and announced in 2016 by member countries). In 2017, ASEAN tourist forum awarded community- based tourism for Pom Coong, Mai Chau town; Mai Hich Homestay was also won the ASEAN Homestay Award.

In the province, there are many other community tourism destinations such as Ai Village of Phong Phu commune (Tan Lac) which is known as the oldest Muong Village and preserves traditional customs and interesting cultural identities of Muong ethnic group. At the beginning of 2004, the village was approved as a community tourist destination by the provincial People’s Council. In 2008, it was recognized as the typical traditional village of Ethnic people by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and was invented from the project "Renovating and preserving the ancient Muong village”. Up to now, the traditional customs and cultural identities of Muong ethnic in Ai village has been and bringing good feelings for many visitors.

In Cao Phong district, Giang Mohamlet of Binh Thanh commune has attracted visitors with more than 100 stilt house-roofs which are originally kept from the shape to the living way of outstanding customs and culture of Muong ethnics. Da Bac upland district is beginning to welcome local and international tourists in some communes such as Da Bia, Tien Phong. It is the same with Vay Nua commune in Ke and Cao Son in Sung. In Ngoi hamlet of Ngoi Hoa commune (Tan Lac), homestays in Ngoc Son – Ngo Luong Natural Reserve still keep original cultural values of Muong ethnics within the mountainous forests and romantic lakes, which attract many international and local tourists to visit and experience.

Mr. Luu Huy Linh, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: it can be affirmed that the community tourism activities has contributed to preserve the cultural values, spaces and actively contribute to creating jobs and improving ling conditions of ethnic minorities in the province. In order to exploit the potential of resources for developing community tourism, the following tasks should be taken care of in the upcoming time:

Firstly, the mechanism and policies of developing community tourism will be researched to build.

Secondly, the tourism infrastructure plan and investment will be paid attention.

Thirdly, the human resources will be focused on training to meet the requirements of community tourism; building a tourism unique product in each community tourism destination. Besides, the propaganda and promotion of the tourist destination images and attractions should be done well.

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