Developing cultural tourism: Taking advantage of advantages and improving the lives of ethnic minorities

Developing cultural tourism is the right direction to both preserve and promote traditional cultural values ​​and improve the lives of ethnic minorities.

Developing cultural tourism is the right development orientation, both helping to preserve and promote traditional cultural values ​​and creating income to improve the lives of people in ethnic minority areas, especially in places with harsh natural conditions.

This is the sharing of Ms. Ro Cham H'Phik, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ia Khuol commune, Gia Lai province, National Assembly delegate of Gia Lai province on the sidelines of the 10th session of the 15th National Assembly regarding the implementation of the National Target Program on socio -economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas for the 2021-2030 period - one of three national target programs discussed by the National Assembly.

People's trust is deeper

- Madam, the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas for the 2021-2030 period aims to promote economic development, ensure social security, sustainably reduce poverty, and improve people's material and spiritual life. In Gia Lai , after 5 years, what results has the program achieved?

Ms. Ro Cham H'Phik : In recent times, Gia Lai province has vigorously implemented this program to develop the socio-economy of ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the province and has achieved positive results.

The poverty rate of the province has decreased by more than 2%. Infrastructure has been invested. Most villages have completed the inter-village and residential road systems. In education, the system of boarding schools and semi-boarding schools has also received investment attention, creating conditions for students, especially those living far from school, to have better learning conditions.

Ms. Ro Cham H'Phik, Secretary of the Party Committee of Ia Khuol commune, Gia Lai province, National Assembly delegate of Gia Lai province. (Photo: PM/Vietnam+)

In the health sector, there have also been positive results. Ethnic minorities in regions 2 and 3 have been supported with 100% health insurance, creating favorable conditions for people to get medical examination and treatment, improving their health.

In particular, the implementation of the national program for socio-economic development in ethnic minority areas has improved the quality of life for the people, and their trust in the Party and State has become increasingly deeper.

- What are the advantages and difficulties of Gia Lai in implementing this program, madam?

Ms. Ro Cham H'Phik : For the national target program, we encountered some difficulties related to capital allocation, especially when switching to two-level local government.

When merging communes, all national target program funding sources must be transferred to the province for the province to reallocate to the commune. Our commune only has 1.5 months to implement these contents, so it is very difficult. Currently, the locality is also stuck in paying social security support from forest development due to overlap and may have to return it to the province. The funding for propaganda work has been implemented at the district level, so it is difficult to settle when it reaches the commune level.

Another difficulty is that some people have not changed their production mindset, their mindset of taking advantage of capital from the program to develop the economy. We are currently stepping up propaganda work to overcome this limitation. With the two-level local government closer to the people, we have directed organizations to monitor and urge people, especially those with policy bank loans, to take advantage of this capital source.

Besides, investment sources are not really strong enough to provide sustainable development capital for people.

Community tourism development

- Implementing the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Areas, one of the projects directed by the Government is to preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in association with tourism development. According to you, what advantages does Gia Lai have in implementing this content?

Mrs. Ro Cham H'Phik : Climate change is greatly affecting agricultural production, reducing the productivity of key crops as well as the seasons. Therefore, we also aim to develop green tourism and community tourism as a sustainable direction.

Art performance at the booth displaying and promoting typical products of Gia Lai province at the 2025 Autumn Fair. (Photo: Khanh Hoa/VNA)

Gia Lai has many favorable conditions for tourism development. We have very fresh air quality, 44 ethnic minorities with very clear cultural characteristics and people still preserve their own culture such as gong culture, xoan dance, traditional yeast... Those are strengths to attract tourists, develop community tourism, especially regional cultural experience tourism. Gia Lai also has natural conditions, beautiful landscapes such as waterfalls, streams, lakes, forests...

When merging with Binh Dinh, Gia Lai will have more sea tourism, and can organize combined experiential tours. This is a new advantage to both preserve and promote the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities and improve the lives of the people.

- For Ia Khuol commune, what will be the development orientation in the coming time, madam?

Mrs. Ro Cham H'Phik: Ia Khuol commune was merged from three communes: Dak To Ver, Ha Tay and Ia Khuol. In our commune, the characteristics of the Bana and Jarai ethnic groups are very clear. We have primitive communal houses, built by the people themselves, and have traditional days of gong singing and dancing every month, which are favorable conditions for developing community tourism.

Therefore, we also aim to develop tourism to increase people's income, especially in Ha Tay commune, where the land is very barren, there is a lack of water in the dry season, and the climate is relatively harsh compared to other regions.

- Thank you very much./.

(Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-van-hoa-tan-dung-loi-the-nang-cao-doi-song-dong-bao-dan-toc-post1073803.vnp