With their storytelling, communication, and networking skills, women also become "destination ambassadors" and create sustainable value. This contributes to the preservation of local culture through innovative, environmentally friendly, and distinctive tourism models.
When technology creates new bridges of connection
As a native of Cam Nam (Hoi An ward), growing up amidst the tranquil life of a riverside village, Ms. Tran Thi Dieu Hong recognized the potential of traditional crafts. She founded True Hoi An Tours, connecting with artisans and households in the village to create authentic local exploration tours.
Following her lead, visitors will meet organic farmers with their patience and generational knowledge. They will encounter artisans who maintain traditional rhythms, preserving a part of the village's memory, and fishermen who live in harmony with the tides. These are not just experiential tours, but bridges that allow visitors to truly participate in, understand, and appreciate the livelihoods of the local people.
On the Tripadvisor travel platform, True Hoi An Tours is highly rated (4.5/5 stars), ranking among the top outstanding leisure activities in Hoi An, with some tours receiving thousands of positive reviews from tourists. By early leveraging the reach of digital platforms, Ms. Hong's tourism model has reached many international tourists, accurately addressing their needs.
She proactively learned, filmed, and edited videos about local tourism activities to promote them on social media, and also collaborated with online travel platforms to introduce and sell products.
“Together, we tell the story of our craft village through the authentic rhythm of local life. Technology makes the journey more convenient and efficient, but authenticity is what keeps visitors coming back. My fellow villagers and I learn little by little to understand what visitors need, adjust our tourism practices accordingly, and apply modern methods without losing our cultural identity,” Ms. Hong shared.
Also in Hoi An, Ms. Pham Thi Cong, the founder of Hoi An Traditional Crafts Workshop, lives in the Kim Bong and Cam Kim areas, where mat weaving has been a part of her family for generations. Having previously worked as a tour guide, she realized that tourists not only want to visit but also want to experience the authentic local culture.
Therefore, she decided to return to her hometown to restore and develop the traditional mat weaving craft in a more accessible and creative way. Here, visitors can hear the story of a traditional craft village, sit at the loom, touch the materials with their own hands, and create their own products under the direct guidance of Ms. Cong.
From the early days of tourism relying solely on word-of-mouth and trust, Ms. Cong has now actively participated in the digital environment. Thanks to this, traditional stories are conveyed in a more modern language, and tourists can order handicrafts, register for experiential tours, and meet artisans directly on online platforms.
There, Ms. Cong and the artisans of Kim Bong village not only sell mats, but also convey the simple beauty through their skillful, diligent hands and deep pride in their homeland's traditional craft.
Leveraging the strengths of women in digital tourism.
Ms. Bui Thi Huyen, CEO of Local Life Technology Co., Ltd., who supports sustainable local tourism projects and products (in Vietnam and several Asian countries), said that on the Local Life Asia platform, women account for 45% of active users and have an advantage in creating engaging content.
“Women tend to be better at listening, adapting, and deciphering societal needs than men. They are also closely connected to traditional values such as cuisine, clothing, and festivals, so they are able to create strong emotional bonds, making tourists feel like they are part of the community, thereby promoting awareness of preserving and promoting local culture – this is the core of sustainability,” Ms. Huyen observed.
Ms. Huyen also believes that it is necessary to continue supporting and empowering women in general, and those working in the tourism industry in particular, to develop themselves and improve their digital skills. This will help minimize and overcome the persistent difficulties women face when running independent businesses, such as limitations in time, finances, sales skills, and access to a wider market.
As a result, they have more opportunities and a favorable environment to leverage their gender advantages, increase their self-confidence, leadership skills, and ability to participate in green, environmentally friendly tourism models, becoming a core, proactive, and creative force in sustainable tourism.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/lan-toa-mem-trong-du-lich-so-3326985.html
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