OCOP and rural tourism - dual benefits

The OCOP program and the Rural Tourism Development program are two key programs on rural economic development under the national target program on New Rural Development. The goal of the two programs is to promote the development of OCOP products, associated with rural tourism to maximize the potential and strengths of natural resources and human resources in each locality. On that basis, rural development is built in the direction of integrating multiple values to improve the quality of life for rural people.

The Rural Tourism Development Program has created a strong shift in awareness and thinking about rural economic development. Instead of the purely "farming" mindset as before, rural people now know how to "do agricultural tourism", shifting from single-value production (agricultural products) to integrated multi-value rural economic development (agriculture - culture - ecology - services).

According to the assessment of the Central Office for New Rural Development Coordination, in Lam Dong, in the period of 2021 - 2025, a number of high-tech agricultural tourism models have been formed in the old Duc Trong district and the old Don Duong district. A number of rural tourism models have built a chain linking tourism - agriculture - OCOP - culture, creating comprehensive economic value, linking production with on-site consumption, making practical contributions to increasing income, creating livelihoods and retaining rural workers.

Mr. Phan Thanh Nhan - Avocado Farm, in Quang Lap commune shared: The development of rural tourism also contributes to the awareness of building a civilized, bright - green - clean - beautiful rural landscape environment. In addition, the development of rural tourism also helps people to be more aware of preserving and maintaining indigenous cultural values through the restoration and reproduction of traditional cultural festivals, as well as exploiting local culinary values, costumes, and traditional arts to create a distinctive highlight, attracting tourists. Thanks to that, the rural landscape and the spiritual and cultural life of rural people have changed significantly, becoming "worth living countryside".

Ms. Nguyen Tran Nha Uyen - a young person in D'ran commune who specializes in reviewing experience points in the old Don Duong district said: "The OCOP program helps create local unique products - a differentiating factor to increase the experience of tourism activities in rural areas - while the Rural Tourism Development program creates conditions for agricultural products to be... "exported" on the spot. 2 programs - 1 double benefit. Through actual records, many homestay, farmstay, gardenstay, villagestay, ecostay owners... have built their own communication channels, taking advantage of social networks such as facebook, zalo, tiktok, youtube... to promote images, videos of destinations, experience products and local culture".

Ms. Trinh Phuong Tu - a tour guide in Ho Chi Minh City confided: "From organizing tours to experience and learn about culture and agricultural ecology, it shows that the consumption of this type of tourism by tourists is increasing. Rural tourism associated with the exploitation and consumption of OCOP products contributes significantly to the revenue from exploiting agricultural and rural tourism. OCOP products with available competitive strengths are promoted for consumption through tourism: cuisine, gifts...".

Statistics from the provincial authorities have also partly reflected the dual effectiveness of the two OCOP programs and Rural Tourism Development. Lam Dong currently has 33 rural tourism models. In the period of 2021 - 2025, the total investment capital for rural tourism models in the province is about 377 billion VND, with the area of rural tourism models being implemented on more than 302 hectares, attracting and creating jobs for nearly 1,000 local workers.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/ocop-va-du-lich-nong-thon-loi-ich-kep-398838.html