Tourism has become a key economic sector of many countries in the world. Some countries have generated revenue and created millions of jobs for local workers from tourism development.

Salt making in Dong Hai district is recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national intangible cultural heritage.

RICH POTENTIAL, STRENGTH

Implementing Directive 08 of the Standing Committee of the 12th District Party Committee on "strengthening the direction of tourism development until 2020 and the following years"; Plan 52 of the Standing Committee of the District Party Committee to implement Resolution 08 of the Politburo "on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector", Dong Hai district has organized, implemented, thoroughly grasped and mobilized the strength of the entire political system to participate.

Compared to other localities, Dong Hai has rich potential and strengths to strongly develop many types of tourism, along with favorable natural conditions that help the district create competitiveness in developing marine economy and marine cultural tourism. Specifically, the coastal belt road extends from Quan Am Phat Dai area ( Bac Lieu city) to Ganh Hao town. Currently, this traffic route is being invested in expansion, creating the ability to connect localities with advantages in marine tourism.

In addition, Dong Hai also has a 23km long coastline, with two large river mouths, Ganh Hao and Cai Cung, leading to the East Sea; 2,140ha of coastal protection forests and 3 wind power plants along with over 2,000ha of salt fields recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage. In addition, the district also has anti-erosion embankments along the river and Ganh Hao estuary surrounding the Ganh Hao urban area, promising to be a potential and ideal eco-tourism destination.

Not only that, Dong Hai also has 3 historical and cultural relics such as: The relic of the first Party cell of Bac Lieu province in Rach Ran hamlet (Long Dien commune), recognized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a national relic; The relic of Uncle Ho's Temple in Cay Giang A hamlet (Long Dien commune) and the relic of Nguyen Trung Truc Communal House (An Trach A commune) recognized by the Provincial People's Committee as a provincial relic. In particular, Dong Hai is also known for many festivals that attract tourists to visit such as: The traditional Nghinh Ong Festival of fishermen in the region is held on the 10th of the third lunar month every year; there is a house displaying aquatic species and a 10m long whale skin that holds the Vietnam Guinness record and is on display to serve tourists at Ong Nam Hai Tomb in Ganh Hao town.

In addition, Dong Hai also has a natural bird garden with an area of about 17 hectares in Lap Dien hamlet (Long Dien Tay commune), gathering many different types of birds, including some rare species listed in the Red Book. Along with that, this locality is also known for its largest seafood exploitation and fishing industry in the province with a fleet of more than 550 boats. The seafood resources here are quite rich with many fresh aquatic species, which can be processed into many attractive dishes such as: oyster porridge, braised pineapple fish, one-sun-dried mackerel, crispy fried red-bellied fish, steamed stingray with onions, braised mullet with red spinach, fish head hotpot... These are advantages that create impressive highlights for Dong Hai to strongly develop tourism in the coming time.

To develop tourism, in recent times, the district has focused on investing and encouraging businesses to upgrade and expand existing tourism facilities and implement new tourism projects, especially projects on accommodation, travel, trade and transportation; develop more regional tourism products and encourage the development and upgrading of high-quality tourism service facilities to serve tourists, in conjunction with strengthening environmental protection.

Along with that, the district focuses on managing, exploiting and organizing well tourism services associated with the historical and cultural traditions of the locality such as: Gia Rai District Party Committee Base Historical Site (Hamlet 2, Long Dien Dong A Commune), Lien Hoa Pagoda (An Trach Commune), Long Phuoc Pagoda (Long Dien Commune), Hac Long Mon (Dinh Thanh Commune)...

Promoting OCOP products of Dong Hai district to serve tourists in 2023. Photo: LD

PROMOTING THE ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY

In fact, tourism not only brings a large source of income to the economy, creates jobs, promotes the development of trade, services, and infrastructure, but also makes an important contribution to cooperation, preservation, exchange, and promotion of culture. In that context, Bac Lieu has been making efforts to synchronously implement many programs and solutions to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector and become one of the five pillars of local socio-economic development.

Implementing the province's policy, to promote tourism development to become an important economic sector of the district and strive to become one of the province's tourist centers, Dong Hai district will focus on exploiting resources reasonably to ensure long-term development. Exploiting tourism activities based on actual needs and capabilities associated with exploiting and using natural resources at a sufficient level, with conservation and avoiding over-exploitation. Respecting the diversity of nature, society, and environment, maintaining and preserving diversity. Closely monitoring tourism activities, preventing the replacement of long-standing traditional industries with modern industries. Focusing on developing tourism within the framework of the provincial, regional, and local strategies on socio-economics must be suitable for the locality, in line with sustainable and long-term planning. Promoting the role of local communities in tourism development... That is the factor that ensures sustainable tourism development and creates many favorable conditions for rapid tourism development.

On the other hand, Dong Hai will promote the organization of training and development of high-quality human resources to serve the tourism industry and continuously improve the quality of tourism products. Pay attention to promoting scientific research in the tourism industry to build strategies, plans, training and implement tourism development activities...

Dong Hai district is currently continuing to implement the Project on developing tourism products for sightseeing, experience, and shopping at the Drying Craft Village in Hamlet 1 (Ganh Hao town) and exploiting the "One Commune One Product" (OCOP) Program. Actively promoting the model of experiencing the actual process of production, harvesting, and purchasing products and tourist gifts made from salt, dried fish, and marine products will be researched and deployed to serve the development of the "smokeless industry". At the same time, the District People's Committee has coordinated to build and maintain a tourism promotion column on Bac Lieu Radio and Television Station, Bac Lieu Newspaper, and other media associated with propaganda and promotion of tourism products, culture, customs, and practices of Dong Hai people...

TRUONG QUOC LAM

Source: https://baocamau.vn/huyen-dong-hai-phat-trien-du-lich-tro-thanh-nganh-kinh-te-quan-trong-a76587.html