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| A Lưới integrates festival activities into community tourism development. |
Identifying difficulties
Under the cool shade of trees, the breeze from the O Lau River intensifies the rustic charm, making visitors feel at ease. Tourism workers in Phuoc Tich (Phong Hoa commune, Phong Dien town) guide visitors to ancient traditional houses, experience pottery making, learn how to make Phu The cakes, and enjoy local cuisine … The simple charm and peaceful scenery make many visitors reluctant to leave. Yet, when asked about the steady flow of visitors, Mr. Hoang Tan Minh, a community tourism operator, shook his head: “The number of visitors isn’t consistent, so the community tourism model here faces some difficulties. On average, we only get a group or individual visitors every 2-3 days. When there are visitors, the management board informs us to gather the teams and departments to work.”
Developing community-based tourism is the right direction, but its ability to attract tourists remains a challenge. Since 2018, Hue City has had 15 tourist destinations recognized by the City People's Committee, including 12 community-based and ecotourism destinations. New tourist routes have been developed within the city, linking existing destinations and encouraging the opening of new, potentially promising destinations, contributing to the diversification of tourism products; attracting capable investors to develop additional tourism services linked to community-based tourism products.
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| Visitors learn about pottery making in Phuoc Tich ancient village. |
Although there are quite a number of villages and community-based tourism destinations, according to an official from the Department of Tourism, it is estimated that community-based tourists only account for about 10% of the total number of visitors to Hue. The number of tourists partly determines the stability and sustainability of this tourism model and also raises concerns in the tourism development strategy of the ancient capital.
According to Tran Thanh Tu, Vice President of the Hue City Tourism Association, the difficulties at community-based tourism destinations stem from limited investment resources, resulting in low-quality products and services. In addition, the promotion of the destination's tourism image is limited; the workforce is primarily local, lacking professionalism; and there is a lack of connection with other locations in the region to form tourism routes.
Recognizing the challenges in developing community-based tourism in line with the current situation, the People's Committee of Hue City recently issued Plan No. 157/KH-UBND dated April 8, 2025, on the Development of Community-Based Tourism in Hue City for the period 2025-2030. The plan clearly defines the goal of increasing the number of community-based tourists in the total number of tourists visiting Hue, aiming for an annual growth of approximately 5-10%. By 2030, the target is for community-based tourists to account for 30% of the total number of tourists visiting Hue.
According to the head of the Department of Tourism, the city will research and support investment in building community tourism models in localities within its jurisdiction; develop pilot models of community tourism villages, linking community tourism development with agricultural and rural tourism in the construction of new rural areas.
Combining multiple solutions
To achieve the set goals, in addition to finalizing the guidelines on community tourism development, localities and the tourism industry will focus on developing distinctive community tourism products, building community tourism models in the direction of green and sustainable tourism; developing and improving the quality of tourist destinations and community tourism products associated with building new rural areas.
According to the Department of Tourism's leadership, one of the upcoming directions is to develop and improve the quality of tourism products on community-based tourism routes linked to the potential, advantages, and characteristics of localities that have been and are being exploited, such as: community-based ecotourism in the Tam Giang lagoon area; community-based ecotourism in Luong Quan - Nguyet Bieu village; community-based tourism associated with traditional craft villages such as Phuoc Tich ancient village, Thanh Tien traditional paper flower village - Sinh village folk painting…
Hue City will also plan and develop 5-7 community tourism models associated with typical traditional craft villages such as Thuy Xuan incense village, Phuoc Tich pottery village, Thuy Van conical hat village, Bao La weaving village, Thanh Tien paper flower village - Sinh village paintings…; develop farmstay tourism models and tourist farms associated with community cultural experiences. Pilot implementation of community tourism experience models linked to exploring Hue's culture, history, and cuisine.
Alongside product development, it is crucial to promote planning, investment in infrastructure, and technical facilities for community tourism development. This includes, in particular, supporting the development of tourism infrastructure and technical facilities at community tourism destinations; upgrading and improving road systems, lighting systems, parking lots, signage, information technology, Wi-Fi, reception points, community cultural centers, exhibition and sales points for local specialties, religious and spiritual sites, service points, sightseeing, experiences, and public entertainment... all to support community tourism development.
Local authorities and the tourism industry will also strengthen promotion and application of digital technology in the development of community tourism; train and improve the quality of tourism human resources, including enhancing the capacity and professional skills of local people participating in community tourism activities. In addition, they will focus on researching, preserving, and promoting cultural values associated with the community tourism environment.
Source: https://huengaynay.vn/du-lich/hut-khach-den-with-du-lich-cong-dong-152757.html
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