Experts say that the cultural heritage of ethnic minorities plays an extremely important role in tourism activities, because it is not only a unique tourism product but also contributes to preserving the cultural identity of ethnic groups.

Ethnic minorities in A Luoi introduce cuisine at a festival event

Cultural values ​​can all become tourism products.

Researching on the cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in Hue City, Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Van Manh (Faculty of History, University of Sciences , Hue University) said that there are 9 types of tangible and intangible forms: traditional architectural forms such as small stilt houses, long stilt houses/communal houses, and communal houses; traditional brocade costumes of the Ta Oi, Van Kieu, and Co Tu people; traditional cuisine; traditional crafts; tools for livelihood, means of transportation, and household utensils; types of folk beliefs; types of festivals, customs, and practices; performing arts; and visual arts.

All of these heritages have the common value of preserving and conserving the vitality and cultural identity of ethnic groups, and the unique value is that each type of heritage represents its own different aspects. The values ​​of each type of cultural heritage can all become cultural tourism products.

Therefore, to exploit the potential of traditional cultural heritage in tourism activities, it is necessary to first investigate and make a general inventory of the typical values ​​of cultural heritage. In addition, exploiting the potential of traditional cultural heritage in tourism activities requires a combination of propaganda and promotion with the connection of four parties: the State, scientists, businesses, and people.

Many ethnic minority festivals that were at risk of being lost have been revived by the community and experts. However, these festivals are only held on a scheduled basis at a certain event, with a modest number of visitors, so exploiting them for tourism still faces many obstacles. Experts recognize the need for a strategy to attract visitors to the festival.

Researching the A Da Koonh festival of the Pa Co people, Dr. Le Anh Tuan - Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism (Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism - Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) said that it is an important and characteristic heritage that creates the cultural nuances of the A Luoi region.

Therefore, in addition to restoring and maintaining festivals, it is necessary to have a tourism development investment strategy. On the one hand, it aims to exploit the strengths and potential of human resources and ethnic cultural identities, on the other hand, it creates motivation and an environment to restore and maintain traditional festivals. "Along with Zeng, A Da Koonh festival will become the main tourism products and focus on creating a strong brand for A Luoi district", Dr. Tuan commented.

Towards preserving, embellishing and honoring cultural values

From the perspective of a tourism professional, Mr. Pham Ngoc, Director of Thuan Hoa Tourism Company (Phu Bai Ward, Huong Thuy Town) assessed that highland tourism in Hue in general and A Luoi in particular is extremely unique and ideal for exploitation. Every year, this company brings dozens of tourist groups to A Luoi to experience and most of them are interested. "I believe that if there is a better way to promote, tourism exploitation in the highlands of A Luoi will be effective, and more tourists will come here," said Mr. Ngoc.

According to experts, for the traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minorities, two suitable types of tourism should be chosen: community tourism and ethnic cultural ecotourism. To develop tourism activities, people in the community will discuss, explore and reorganize available internal resources to build sustainable tourism development plans, and proactively implement those plans in the direction of responsible tourism for tourists and local communities.

According to Mr. Manh, with the community tourism village model, tourists will not only come to visit and experience local culture but also have the opportunity to learn, raise awareness about the environment and cultural exchange, experience daily life with the community people. On the other hand, exploiting and developing community tourism villages helps create jobs for local people; helps preserve, embellish and honor the cultural values, natural resources of the locality, towards environmental protection, sustainable tourism development...

“In the process of building tours based on the traditional cultural heritage of ethnic minorities, it is necessary to pay attention to combining with other tourism products, such as historical - cultural products, waterfalls, caves, primeval forests, flora and fauna of mountainous areas... Combining with these tourism products will enrich the diversity of tours, creating attractiveness to attract tourists. Through that, forming a connection between natural and humanistic ecological spaces for tourism activities, creating opportunities for indigenous people - the subjects of cultural heritage to participate in tourism activities", Mr. Manh noted.

Article and photos: NHAT MINH

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/du-lich/khai-thac-tiem-nang-du-lich-van-hoa-cua-dong-bao-dan-toc-thieu-so-154371.html