Can Loc tourism opens up job and income opportunities for many households

(Baohatinh.vn) - Synchronous investment in infrastructure has brought new vitality to tourism at Huong Tich Pagoda (Can Loc commune), attracting more and more tourists, opening up job opportunities to increase income for many households.

Located at an altitude of over 650m on the Hong Linh range, Huong Tich Pagoda is surrounded by cool green forests, with a winding road up to the pagoda nearly 4km between majestic mountains and forests. Associated with the legend of Bodhisattva Quan Am Dieu Thien, this place was once honored by ancient scholars as "Hoan Chau's most famous landscape", one of the 21 scenic spots of the South.

The 130 billion VND investment from the ADB project has "changed the clothes" of Huong Tich Pagoda Tourist Area.

Identifying tourism as one of the three development breakthroughs in the economic development orientation, the old Can Loc district (now Can Loc commune) always considers Huong Tich pagoda as the central highlight in the chain of cultural - spiritual tourism and experiential tourism in the area. Accordingly, the awakening of Huong Tich's potential has been and is having a strong movement. The work of promoting, calling for investment and implementing infrastructure upgrading projects has been carried out synchronously, contributing to making Huong Tich pagoda a "specialty" of Can Loc tourism in particular and Ha Tinh in general.

The most remarkable transformation of Huong Tich Pagoda tourist area is the ADB project phase 1, with a total investment of 130 billion VND (implemented from the end of 2020). A series of important items such as the operator house, square, tram route to the cable car station, parking lot, lighting system... have been upgraded synchronously, creating a spacious appearance and increasing connectivity for the entire tourist area.

Every year, Huong Pagoda welcomes 130,000-150,000 visitors.

“In parallel with public investment capital, the locality also promotes the socialization of resources, effectively mobilizing donations and community cooperation to repair and embellish many items, aiming to perfect the landscape to better serve tourists. Currently, the tourist area is implementing the construction of a three-entrance gate with a budget of about 20 billion VND, and at the same time planning to repair and renovate items affected by storms to prepare for the new tourist season,” said Ms. Hoang Thi Binh, Can Loc Commune General Service Center.

Not only focusing on infrastructure investment, Can Loc also focuses on innovating management methods, enhancing coordination with travel agencies in promoting and building tours. These efforts help services in the tourist area form a synchronous chain of links, support each other and create an increasingly professional service style.

The tourism service support model of Thanh Sen Travel Company is highly appreciated by tourists.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Trinh - Chairman of the Board of Directors, General Director of Thanh Sen Travel Company, commented: "Since our company's Huong Tich Pagoda Tourism Service Operation and Support Center came into operation in early 2021, with a full package of services from guides, explanations to ritual support, the number of visitors has increased significantly."

The synchronous investment in infrastructure and increasingly professional services have attracted a steady increase in the number of visitors to Huong Tich Pagoda over the years. According to statistics from Can Loc commune, the tourist area welcomes 130,000-150,000 visitors each year, especially during the peak of the spring festival season. The stable number of visitors not only affirms the attraction of Huong Tich scenic spot but also opens an important foundation for the development of the local service economy.

The booming tourism has created direct jobs for hundreds of workers at travel agencies, electric car operators, motorboat operators, cable cars and other support services. In addition to the stable source of jobs from service operators, many households around the foot of Hong Mountain have also boldly changed their livelihoods: opening refreshment shops, trading in offerings, selling local specialties such as shallots, vegetables, and OCOP products of Ha Tinh ; serving food and drink, parking lots, etc. These activities have contributed to significantly increasing the income of local people, gradually forming a more systematic and professional service space associated with tourism.

The activities of travel businesses, electric cars, motorboats, cable cars and other support services have created jobs for many local workers.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa (Can Loc commune) shared: “In the past, my husband and I only relied on a few fields of rice, the income was not worth much, raising our children to study was very difficult. Since more visitors came to the pagoda, I opened a drink shop, selling corn, baked potatoes, candy... my income is much more stable. During the peak months of the festival season, my income is equal to the whole year of farming before. Thanks to tourism, my family's life is much less difficult."

Ms. Hoa's story is also the common reality of many households in the coastal areas of Huong Pagoda tourist area - people who are innovating their ways of doing things every day, proactively taking advantage of tourism opportunities to develop the economy and improve the quality of life.

Mr. Pham Quoc Dat - Vice Chairman of Can Loc Commune People's Committee said: "The synchronous investment in tourism infrastructure at Huong Tich Pagoda not only changes the appearance of the tourist area, improves service quality but also creates a strong attraction for tourists inside and outside the province. Every year, tourism activities at Huong Tich Pagoda bring in revenue from 1.5 to 2 billion VND for the locality. This is an important resource for reinvestment, infrastructure improvement, and at the same time contributes to creating jobs and increasing income for many local households".

From the obvious changes in infrastructure, services to the positive changes in people's lives, Huong Tich Pagoda is not only a famous spiritual destination - scenic spot of Ha Tinh, but is truly becoming a launching pad for Can Loc tourism. The right development, methodical investment and proactive participation of the community have created a sustainable cycle between tourism - economy - livelihood, contributing to bringing Can Loc closer to the goal of building a new rural commune in the direction of civilized and modern urban areas.

Source: https://baohatinh.vn/du-lich-can-loc-mo-ra-co-hoi-viec-lam-thu-nhap-cho-nhieu-ho-dan-post300802.html