Developing sustainable agricultural tourism

Agricultural tourism is increasingly attracting local people and tourists to experience; at the same time creating jobs for local people, however, it is necessary to ensure the criteria for sustainable agricultural tourism development.

Getting back to nature and experiencing real-life activities are being chosen by many locals and tourists. In the photo: Tourists playing and taking pictures at the Lotus Farm. Photo: THU HA

Coming back to nature and experiencing real-life activities is being chosen by many locals and tourists. IN PHOTO: Tourists playing and taking pictures at the Lotus Farm. Photo: THU HA

On weekends, eco- tourism and community sites in communes of Hoa Vang district become ideal destinations for locals and tourists to experience and have fun. At Sen Farm (Truong Dinh village, Hoa Lien commune), Ms. Truong Thuy Nga's (Hai Chau district) children were very excited to see bees making honey, growing seedlings, playing outdoor games... Ms. Nga shared that it is very beneficial for children to play and explore beautiful nature, stimulating children's curiosity and exploration. Hopefully, the city will have more experience sites like this for children to come to play and learn.

Sen Farm is one of the tourist destinations chosen by many families, groups of students to study and experience. There are many activities close to nature such as wading through streams to catch fish, playing folk games, climbing monkey bridges, blindfolded duck catching, participating in agricultural markets... Mr. Dang Thai Lam, Director of Truong Dinh Cooperative (Sen Farm) said that with an area of about 10 hectares divided into areas: growing lotus, growing clean vegetables, raising bees, raising chickens, raising fish... all designed in the most natural way.

“Choosing to develop tourism from local agriculture, Sen Farm uses 100% local labor (more than 10 workers), creating stable jobs for the people. For sustainable development, the farm focuses on tourist experiences, helping visitors feel the simplicity and rusticity of the countryside, preserving local cultural features through activities such as agricultural markets, Bai Choi singing exchanges... In addition, the farm also trains and guides workers in skills in activities serving tourists", Mr. Lam shared.

Along with Sen Farm, some eco-tourism models in Hoa Vang are operating stably and welcoming a good number of visitors such as: An Phu farm model; Banarita Glamping farm model (Hoa Phu commune); Nam Yen valley grape garden model and Agricultural production area combined with tourism service exploitation of Mr. Nguyen Duc Tung (Hoa Bac commune). These models mainly exploit the activities of experiencing vegetable growing, grape growing, making traditional cakes, making Quang noodles; harvesting vegetables, tubers, fruits, extracurricular experientialeducation , training skills for students; providing food services, processing local dishes, processing vegetables, tubers, fruits harvested at the model, BBQ parties, coffee; service activities such as camping, kite flying, physical games, taking pictures.

Most of the current models focus on experiential activities, vegetable growing, farming... In the photo: Nam Yen Valley Vineyard is a favorite choice for many locals and tourists every weekend. Photo: THU HA

Most of the current models are geared towards experiential activities, vegetable growing, farming... IN PHOTO: Nam Yen Valley Vineyard is a favorite choice for many locals and tourists every weekend. Photo: THU HA

According to Mr. Do Thanh Tan, Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Hoa Vang district, after Resolution No. 82/NQ-HDND dated December 17, 2021 was issued, the district has concretized the policy of developing agriculture combined with exploiting tourism services, aiming to develop agricultural, forestry and aquaculture areas in Hoa Vang district. Thereby increasing the economic value of local agriculture, creating jobs for rural people, diversifying tourism products for Da Nang, meeting the entertainment needs of urban people and experiential education for high school students.

After a period of implementation, the models have shown the effectiveness of integrating trade and services into agricultural production, helping to increase agricultural value many times over and have great potential in developing the agricultural economy associated with building new rural areas in Hoa Vang. The models all create jobs on the spot for about 25-30 local workers (an average of 8-10 workers/model); consume agricultural products and OCOP specialty products (One Commune One Product program) of the district. In addition, the agricultural tourism spots being implemented above meet the needs of entertainment and picnics of students and people.

Recently, the City People's Committee issued Decision No. 495/QD-UBND dated March 14, 2024 on the plan to implement the rural tourism development program in building new rural areas in the city by 2025. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the attraction of social resources, especially the private sector, and active participation from the local community in investing in rural tourism development to develop diverse tourism products and services, create jobs for local workers, contribute to the restructuring of the rural economy, build sustainable new rural areas; develop a system of destinations and unique, highly competitive tourism products...

The goal by 2025 is to complete the planning of mountainous tourism and the planning of water recreation areas in Hoa Vang district to call for investment in development, providing experiential tourism products, natural ecology; develop standardized rural tourism destinations and products, strive to form 2 OCOP tourism products of 3 stars or higher, 2 community tourism cooperatives, 100% of tourism establishments are trained in necessary skills to serve tourism; form a network of rural tourism connections specific to Hoa Vang district...

NHAT HA

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