An Giang develops sustainable community tourism.

An Giang is a province rich in cultural traditions, home to diverse ethnic communities that have lived there for generations, creating a rich and colorful system of cultural heritage. The values ​​of architecture, festivals, cuisine, traditional crafts, etc., not only contribute to the province's unique cultural identity but also serve as important resources for developing sustainable community tourism, linked to the goal of improving people's lives and promoting socio-economic development.

An international famtrip group visits Tra Su Melaleuca Forest.

According to Nguyen Trung Thanh, Deputy Director of the An Giang Provincial Department of Tourism, An Giang is one of the localities with favorable conditions for developing community tourism. With the unique ecosystem of the Bay Nui region, melaleuca forests, lakes, mountains, and diverse natural landscapes, along with the rich cultural identity of the Cham and Khmer people, the province possesses unique tourism resources.

Places like the Cham villages in Chau Phong and An Phu; Khmer hamlets in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien; Mount Cam, Mount Sam, and the Tra Su Melaleuca forest… create a system of natural and cultural values ​​that are favorable for the development of experiential products linked to community life.

Artisan Neàng Sa Mon, residing in An Cư commune, weaves traditional Khmer brocade.

In the context of tourists increasingly favoring authentic experiences close to nature and local culture, An Giang has the potential to strongly develop products such as visiting Cham brocade weaving villages; experiencing festivals and the Ro-Bam dance of the Khmer people; exploring the ecosystem - streams - forests; enjoying traditional cuisine ; and staying in community homestays. These products are not only attractive to domestic tourists but also align with international tourism trends towards sustainability and respect for cultural identity.

The Cham textile products made by Mr. Mohamad in Chau Phong commune are well-known to many tourists.

Dr. Vu Thi Uyen from Hanoi University of Culture stated: “When heritage is well preserved, heritage tourism creates stable livelihoods for local people, encouraging them to become guardians and disseminators of heritage values. This will create livelihoods for the people. The development of tourism is closely linked to the preservation and promotion of heritage values, creating a sustainable cycle: preservation helps development, and development helps preservation.”

The Vietnam National Tourism Administration is surveying beekeeping areas in the Tra Su Melaleuca forest.

The unique cultural values ​​of the Cham and Khmer people, along with their festivals, traditional arts, brocade weaving, and indigenous handicrafts, are identified as core elements in forming community-based tourism products with a distinct identity for the province. Simultaneously, the rich ecosystem of the Bay Nui region, Tra Su Melaleuca forest, Cam Mountain, Sam Mountain, etc., provides favorable conditions for developing eco-tourism and experiential tourism products that combine culture with nature.

However, for community-based tourism to develop in the right direction and bring real benefits to the people, it is necessary to acknowledge the existing difficulties: the products are still fragmented, the quality of services is uneven, and the level of digital transformation and promotional activities of the community are still limited.

The delegation from the Vietnam National Tourism Administration experienced river tourism on boats during the flood season.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Nguyen Thi Hoa Mai, suggested that An Giang's tourism industry should focus on standardizing community-based tourism services, promoting regional linkages and business connections. In particular, attention should be paid to communication and digital transformation in tourism. Supporting communities in building their image and telling stories about unique local community-based tourism products on social media will help An Giang tourism gain wider recognition.

Mr. Mohamad, a resident of Chau Phong commune, said: “We hope to receive more specific guidance from relevant authorities on how to operate homestays, how to create menus suitable for tourists, how to organize cultural and traditional craft experiences, and how to communicate with tourists. In particular, we need guidance on filming, photographing, editing content, and uploading products to digital platforms to proactively promote, market, and interact with tourists.”

According to Mr. Nguyen Trung Thanh, in the coming time, the An Giang province tourism industry will review and select a number of exemplary communities to build community-based tourism models in a professional manner, linked to traditional craft villages in ethnic minority and mountainous areas. These models must ensure harmony between local culture, natural ecology, and market demand. Among them, the Cham communities in An Phu and Chau Phong; the Khmer villages in Tri Ton and Tinh Bien; and households around the Cam Mountain - Tra Su area have particularly suitable potential for pilot projects…

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Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/an-giang-phat-develop-sustainable-community-tourism-a470356.html