Ba Thuoc (Thanh Hoa): Promoting local potential, increasing income for ethnic minorities and mountainous areas

Landscape strengths have promoted community tourism development in Ba Thuoc (photo by Le Thanh)

From landscape strengths to community tourism development

Typically, the mountainous district of Ba Thuoc has had the right and effective direction in promoting the existing strengths of the locality, contributing to economic and social development, and improving people's lives.

Since the establishment of Pu Luong Nature Reserve, many solutions to protect forests associated with developing people's lives and increasing their income have been proposed, including planning and developing ecotourism and community tourism.

"Taking the first steps" with the attention and facilitation of all levels and sectors, Ba Thuoc has now become the "leading bird" in developing community tourism in Thanh Hoa province.

As evidence, Pu Luong Community Ecotourism Area has become an attractive destination, attracting a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. This is one of the few tourist areas in the whole province that is often "fully booked" during holidays and Tet... Even when many famous tourist areas of Thanh Hoa enter the "winter break", Pu Luong is still bustling with visitors.

Up to now, in Ba Thuoc district, there are about 80 accommodation establishments; in which the number of homestay and resort accommodation establishments in Pu Luong Community Eco-tourism Area is mainly concentrated in Thanh Lam, Thanh Son, and Co Lung communes; many households have joint ventures and partnerships with individuals, organizations, and outside businesses to invest in implementing many large-scale resort tourism projects.

The number of visitors and tourism revenue has been increasing steadily over the years. In 2022, tourism activities grew strongly again after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Ba Thuoc tourism welcomed 82,646 visitors, exceeding 122% compared to the previous year, the highest ever (international visitors were 5,447, domestic visitors were 77,199).

From the beginning of 2023 to now, Ba Thuoc tourism has welcomed 50,054 visitors (8,451 foreign visitors), the average number of visitors is about 1,500/day and night; estimated revenue is over 85 billion VND...

Preserving indigenous cultural values ​​in tourism development (Photo: Le Thanh)

Mr. Le Van Su, Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Ba Thuoc district said: Throughout the process of building and developing eco-tourism and community tourism, Ba Thuoc district always identifies the position and role of the tourism industry as a driving force to promote the development of other industries and fields.

Mr. Su acknowledged that the nature of tourism is a comprehensive economic sector, with interdisciplinary, inter-regional, highly socialized and profound cultural content, bringing about multi-faceted effectiveness in terms of economy, culture - society, politics, foreign affairs and security - defense. Therefore, the district proactively builds and coordinates with relevant levels and sectors to implement contents and programs to raise awareness and innovate thinking about developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector; replicate typical models, organizations and individuals in tourism development in the locality; promote propaganda to raise awareness and knowledge about tourism development in society.

Based on the available potential strengths of nature, climate, culture, the district has also done a good job of planning and managing tourism development planning; investing in tourism development infrastructure to develop both the scale and quality of tourism activities. Many homestay models invested by some local households in Pu Luong tourist area have an income of hundreds of millions of VND/year, typically: The households of Mr. Ha Van Sy, Mr. Ha Van Dung (Hieu village, Co Lung commune), Mr. Ha Van Giap, Ha Van Lich, Ha Van Thuoc (Don village, Thanh Lam commune), Mr. Lo Van Nam (Kho Muong village, Thanh Son commune)...

Preserving traditional crafts while creating jobs for workers

Along with that, the district's tourism products are constantly being renewed, diversified and enriched to meet the needs of tourists.

Along with the development of community tourism, Ba Thuoc district also focuses on preserving and promoting the brocade weaving craft. Brocade weaving products are becoming unique souvenirs, serving the needs of domestic and foreign tourists when coming to Ba Thuoc in general and Pu Luong tourist area in particular.

Ba Thuoc district always determines the motto of building a brand for sustainable tourism development (Photo: Le Thanh)

In recent years, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Thanh Hoa, in collaboration with Ba Thuoc district, has organized training courses on methods to preserve and promote the craft of embroidery and weaving patterns on traditional costumes for hundreds of students in the communes of Ban Cong, Thanh Lam, Thanh Son, Co Lung, Lung Niem, Lung Cao...

In addition, from the funding source of the project "Preserving and developing traditional crafts and craft villages in Thanh Hoa ethnic minority areas in the period of 2016-2020", Ba Thuoc district supported the restoration of weaving frames for dozens of households; supported people to introduce and promote brocade products through fairs and trade channels...

Up to now, the traditional brocade weaving craft of Ba Thuoc district has been restored and strongly developed with over 120 households and nearly 300 people directly involved in the craft. In addition to weaving clothes and household items, women have created many new products such as handbags, shoes, slippers, stuffed animals and small souvenirs to serve tourists. In the coming time, in addition to promoting the establishment of traditional craft villages, Ba Thuoc district is also building a dossier to propose the recognition of brocade as a provincial OCOP product.

Thanks to the efforts of authorities at all levels and the dedication of artisans, brocade weaving in Ba Thuoc district is being preserved and promoted effectively. This traditional craft has contributed to creating jobs, increasing income for people, while preserving and promoting the traditional culture of ethnic minorities in Ba Thuoc district.

Thanh Hoa: Developing tourism associated with preserving and promoting cultural values

Source: https://baodantoc.vn/ba-thuoc-thanh-hoa-phat-huy-tiem-nang-dia-phuong-tang-thu-nhap-cho-dong-bao-dtts-va-mien-nui-1712285081649.htm