Diversify types of sustainable tourism

The strategy of diversifying tourism products is demonstrated through the diverse and high-class tourism ecosystems that are being formed at many destinations, not only attracting tourists but also creating a foundation for sustainable tourism development and international integration.

Development has not kept pace with its potential.

Tourism is one of the three pillars of socio-economic development in Binh Thuan province. Therefore, in recent years, the province's tourism industry has opened up new business directions and invested to create new momentum through high-quality, new, and dynamic tourism products that attract the attention of tourists, especially foreign visitors. Over several decades of development, the province's tourism sector has achieved significant accomplishments. As a province located within the South Central sub-regional development cluster, with abundant resources of sea, forests, minerals, hot springs, and nature reserves such as Ong Mountain, Ta Cu Mountain, Phu Quy Island Marine Reserve, and Cu Lao Cau Island with its diverse biodiversity, it has great potential for tourism development. With its beautiful beaches and picturesque, majestic, and pristine natural landscapes, featuring famous landmarks such as the Mui Ne sand dunes, Bau Trang, Ke Ga cape, hydroelectric lakes, Vinh Hao and Da Kai mineral springs, Bung Thi hot springs, and Phong Dien hot springs, it offers opportunities for sightseeing and experiences, and has the potential to develop water sports combined with various types of resort tourism. Furthermore, Binh Thuan boasts a rich system of historical and cultural relics characteristic of the South Central region, featuring many unique architectural structures such as: nationally ranked historical and cultural architectural relics like the Po Sah Inu Cham Tower, Duc Thanh School, Van Thuy Tu, Thầy Thím Shrine, Co Thach Temple, Linh Son Truong Tho (Ta Cu Mountain Pagoda)... Thirty-five ethnic groups live together in the province, each with their own distinct cultures, customs, traditional crafts, festivals, and histories, creating a diverse yet distinct cultural identity for Binh Thuan. As one of Vietnam's first provinces to develop its tourism industry, with distinctive products recognized by the Vietnam Book of Records such as: the first fish sauce brand in Vietnam, Mui Ne sand dunes, the Seven-Colored Rock Beach (Ca Duoc), the longest green dragon, the longest reclining Buddha statue, the largest dragon fruit cultivation area, and the cultivation of valuable Spirulina algae… Binh Thuan possesses many advantages as well as challenges in its tourism development orientation. However, alongside the achievements, Binh Thuan's tourism still faces limitations such as: tourism products remain limited compared to its abundant resources, especially in the context of international integration and the increasingly diverse demands of tourists for new products and types of tourism. Tourism development has not yet lived up to its potential and expectations, lacking supporting services, with dispersed investment resources and low human resource levels. In particular, the current tourism product system is fragmented and repetitive, lacking distinctive tourism products, and failing to establish a competitive advantage in the South Central region and the country as a whole, especially in the context of pursuing the dual goals of developing tourism as a key economic sector and comprehensively developing new rural areas, as directed by the province and Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW, dated January 16, 2017, of the Politburo.

Tourists want to visit Binh Thuan to explore more of its lakes and waterfalls. Photo: Ngoc Lan

Diversify types of tourism.

Based on the above reasons, Binh Thuan province has just approved the project "Diversifying tourism types and products in Binh Thuan province by 2025, with a vision to 2030". This project will help Binh Thuan province systematize its tourism types and products in depth, focusing on key areas, creating similarities and differences in products. In addition, the project is also a direction to help attract investment, prioritize investment, and develop the province's socio-economic development, gradually making Binh Thuan's tourism industry a key economic sector in accordance with the spirit of the Plan to implement Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW, dated January 16, 2017, of the Politburo. Accordingly, the province will maximize its potential advantages in nature and culture, harmonizing the development of tourism types and products. Promoting experiential tourism and increasing attractiveness to meet the diverse needs of tourist markets in each type of tourism product. Developing tourism products according to a prioritized roadmap, ensuring feasibility and balance between supply and demand, focusing investment on key areas, and promoting the unique characteristics of Binh Thuan province. Simultaneously, using tourism resources rationally and efficiently in a sustainable manner. Preserving and developing tourism resources and the environment, preserving and promoting the cultural identity of ethnic groups and regions. Ensuring the consistency and synchronization of socio-economic development planning, and integrating environmental protection with national defense and security. Analyses, assessments, and development orientations are based on a holistic, systematic, and interconnected system across sectors, fields, and regions. With the goal of contributing to the development of tourism as a key economic sector and a pillar of socio-economic development for the province, in line with the tourism development plan and strategy, and the regional planning of Binh Thuan province, the leaders of Binh Thuan province stated that they will continue to develop diverse types and products of tourism with a focus on key areas, sustainability, and safety, linked to political security, environmental protection, and the preservation and promotion of national cultural identity and traditions. Priority will be given to developing distinctive and professional tourism products, enhancing the competitiveness of Binh Thuan tourism. Simultaneously, the aim is to attract more tourists to Binh Thuan province, encourage longer stays, higher spending, and repeat visits, thereby increasing tourism revenue and contributing to socio-economic development. Furthermore, the province will attract reputable investors with strong potential, experience, and credibility to invest in tourism, exploiting and developing diverse tourism products and services within the province…

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