The conference was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Le Thanh Long and more than 300 domestic and international delegates representing national and local government agencies of member countries, international organizations, the tourism community, and the private sector from approximately 50 countries and territories.
Tourism is changing the face of rural areas.
Rural Vietnam possesses a diverse range of unique cultural and natural heritage with many distinct characteristics. These are valuable resources that provide unique experiences, contributing to attracting tourists to rural areas and positively contributing to the socio -economic development of these regions.
According to Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong, in recent years, Vietnam has focused on developing unique agricultural and rural tourism products that can attract domestic and international tourists, diversifying Vietnam's tourism services, promoting tour connections, and expanding the scope of tourism in rural areas.
"Conversely, rural tourism is also an important factor in promoting agricultural and rural development through livelihood transformation, boosting consumption of agricultural products, and increasing people's income. At the same time, it supports the preservation of traditional crafts, develops valuable local products, fosters trust and attachment to the homeland, and attracts investment in the agricultural and rural sectors," said Deputy Minister Ho An Phong.
Experience over the past years in Vietnam shows that tourism has made a significant contribution to transforming the landscape and turning many rural areas with limited development conditions into "livable countryside".
Rural tourism not only promotes socio-economic development and the restructuring of the rural economy, but also preserves valuable landscapes, ecosystems, the environment, and traditional cultural identities. This contributes to narrowing the income and living standards gap between rural and urban residents.
In Quang Nam, agricultural and rural tourism began to develop in the 2000s and has flourished since 2013. Tourist destinations are distributed across most localities in the province, with 126 agricultural and rural tourism resource sites already documented.
Some notable destinations include Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Tra Que Vegetable Village, Cam Thanh Bay Mau Coconut Forest, Kim Bong Woodworking Village (Hoi An City), and Co Tu Community-Based Tourism Village (Nam Giang)... It is estimated that more than 30% of tourists visiting Quang Nam experience agricultural and rural tourism products.
Some notable highlights include the Bay Mau Coconut Forest - Cam Thanh tourist area, attracting nearly 1 million visitors annually; and Tra Que Vegetable Village, which is expected to attract nearly 25,000 visitors in 2024. Recently, on November 14, 2024, in Colombia, Quang Nam province was honored to receive an award from the United Nations Tourism Organization recognizing Tra Que Vegetable Village in Hoi An City as the Best Tourist Village of 2024.
For inclusive development
In implementing the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030 and the Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045, Vietnam has approved the Rural Tourism Development Program in the context of building new rural areas for the period 2021-2025. Accordingly, the goal of rural tourism development is to leverage the potential and advantages of agriculture, traditional crafts, culture, and the ecological environment of rural areas, contributing to the transformation of the rural economic structure towards an integrated, inclusive, and multi-valued approach.
On the part of the United Nations Tourism Organization, this agency has also implemented the "Tourism for Rural Development Program," aiming to make tourism a driving force for development and improve the well-being of rural areas.
Simultaneously, the program promotes the role of tourism in valuing and protecting rural areas along with their landscapes, knowledge systems, biodiversity, culture, and local values. It also aims to foster innovative and transformative approaches to tourism development in rural destinations, contributing to the three pillars of economic, social, and environmental sustainability – in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations Tourism Organization, said: “By focusing on rural tourism, we can diversify the rural economy; connect tourism with agriculture, empower women and young people; and attract significant investments that will make society more equitable and sustainable. Tourism also contributes to strengthening community cultural values and restoring the connection between people and ecosystems.”
According to Luong Nguyen Minh Triet, Alternate Member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam and Secretary of the Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee, since 2019 Quang Nam has consistently conveyed a message about developing green tourism, focusing on sustainability, and subsequently became the first locality in the country to issue a set of provincial-level criteria for green tourism.
For the past five years, Quang Nam province has been striving to develop its local tourism industry in line with green tourism principles. As a result, destinations in Quang Nam have become increasingly attractive to tourists, leaving a positive impression on international visitors.
"Through the conference, delegates contributed many initiatives aimed at achieving the goal of sustainable rural tourism development; ensuring fair distribution of tourism benefits, creating jobs; protecting natural and cultural resources, promoting social inclusion, and empowering local communities, especially vulnerable groups," said Comrade Luong Nguyen Minh Triet.
Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/du-lich-nong-thon-truc-van-hoi-moi-3145681.html
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