Come to Dong Thap, enjoy the "specialties" of fishing, rowing a boat to see lotus flowers

In recent times, Dong Thap agricultural tourism has added many new colors, creating many values, contributing to changing the rural appearance of this land.

Dong Thap has great potential for developing agricultural tourism , eco-tourism, and community tourism. (Source: Investment Newspaper)

Promoting unique indigenous culture

Agricultural tourism is identified as the main type in the development strategy of Dong Thap. Models of eco-tourism - culinary tourism; experiential -educational tourism; eco-tourism, experiential - resort tourism or experiences such as rowing a boat to see lotus fields, visiting gardens, fishing, enjoying countryside cuisine... are considered "specialties" of Dong Thap tourism.

By November 2023, the whole province will have 65 agricultural and community tourism attractions, including: 8 Homestays (a form of reception and accommodation for tourists in a popular way), 2 Farmstays (a form of accommodation on farms), 55 community tourism attractions, agricultural tourism, and craft village experiences.

Districts in the province have also spread and developed many agricultural tourism models combining the exploitation of indigenous cultural values, while increasing the value of local agricultural products.

For example, in Thap Muoi district, many households are exploiting agricultural and rural tourism at Dong Sen Tourist Area. Coming here, visitors can experience rowing a boat to admire the lotus fields, take souvenir photos, go fishing, enjoy traditional music, enjoy many dishes made from lotus and shop for products made from lotus...

Lai Vung district is effectively developing agricultural tourism models to visit fruit gardens such as: experiencing pink grapefruit, orange, dragon fruit, plum gardens...

Or the Sa Dec ornamental flower growing area (Sa Dec city) has developed 18 sightseeing and agricultural tourism experience spots; of which 12 spots are being effectively exploited...

Dr. Tran Van Tuy from the Institute of Cultural Economics said that Dong Thap has great potential for developing agricultural tourism, eco-tourism, and community tourism. Developing these types of tourism not only helps the locality protect its environmental resources but also promotes the unique indigenous culture of the locality.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Ngo Quang Tuyen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Dong Thap province, said that the agricultural tourism model in Dong Thap is contributing to preserving and promoting the value of cultural heritage and natural resources, creating jobs, improving people's lives; and promoting the land and people of Dong Thap.

"This model creates conditions to support tourist destinations to boldly transform from a purely agricultural economic model to developing an agricultural tourism economy, contributing 5-6% of the province's GRDP," said Mr. Tuyen.

Du lịch Đồng Tháp. (Nguồn: Người Lao động)

In Thap Muoi district, many households are exploiting agricultural and rural tourism in Dong Sen Tourist Area. (Source: Nguoi Lao Dong)

Enhancing the value of agricultural tourism products

Mr. Ngo Quang Tuyen realized that the province needs to orient investment in developing specific tourism products, agricultural and rural tourism associated with products under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program to develop agricultural tourism and help farmers do tourism more professionally.

At the same time, Dong Thap needs to develop a system of highly connected products (such as eco-resort tourism, agricultural and rural tourism associated with OCOP products combined with craft village experiences; cultural and historical tourism combined with festivals, and Sen culinary tourism).

At the recent workshop “Enhancing the position of agricultural tourism development in Dong Thap province”, experts also proposed that the province should plan each area for agricultural tourism development in association with the strengths of local resources; research and develop typical tourism products, combining tourism with entertainment services with high experiential value.

In addition, strengthen the connection between business households, between localities in the province and with service companies, travel agencies; pay attention to investing in improving and enhancing the quality of accommodation services...

A representative of the Faculty of Tourism, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Ho Chi Minh City, stated: "The Dong Thap government needs to create attractive policies to attract businesses to invest in tourism farms. Along with that, the government needs to issue its own mechanism to promote the development of agricultural tourism.

It is necessary to develop infrastructure and accommodation facilities; create a national brand for Dong Thap mango; and identify the target audience for agricultural tourism. In addition, attracting young people to return to their hometown to develop tourism is also an issue that needs attention."

Regarding Dong Thap, in the coming time, the Provincial People's Committee will focus on developing agricultural tourism in an innovative direction, enhancing the value of tourism products to attract more domestic and foreign tourists to the province.

The province will develop river tourism routes connecting tours and agricultural eco-tourism sites; enhance the capacity to manage agricultural tourism sites at farm households in a synchronous, professional and effective manner to promote sustainable tourism development and train and improve the quality of human resources for the community.

Source