Quang Tri: Developing sustainable community tourism brings stable livelihoods to the people.

Community-based tourism is considered a suitable direction for economic development because it creates local livelihoods while encouraging people to preserve their culture, protect forests, maintain land and village spaces – core values ​​that constitute cultural identity.

According to Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, the National Target Program for Socio -Economic Development in Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions is an important policy of the Party and State aimed at narrowing the development gap, improving living standards, and creating sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities. Besides investing in infrastructure, healthcare, and education, the program emphasizes developing economic models based on local advantages.

In this context, community-based tourism is considered a suitable approach because it creates local livelihoods while encouraging people to preserve their culture, protect forests, and maintain the land and space of their villages – core values ​​that constitute cultural identity.

In implementing this policy, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration has recently collaborated closely with localities, including Quang Tri , to survey potential, conduct training courses, provide skills development, support business connections, and gradually apply digital transformation in destination promotion. These activities aim to help ethnic minority communities have the capacity to participate in the tourism value chain proactively and sustainably.

Deputy Director Pham Van Thuy stated that Quang Tri possesses many favorable conditions for developing community tourism. The mountainous Truong Son region in Huong Hoa and Dakrong has a rich ecosystem, with hills and mountains interspersed with streams, waterfalls, and primeval forests – factors particularly suitable for ecotourism and outdoor experiential tourism products.

At the same time, the Van Kieu - Pa Co community here possesses a unique culture with gongs, bamboo flutes, festivals, traditional handicrafts, local cuisine, and many historical stories associated with the legendary Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is a valuable resource for creating authentic, distinctive, and culturally rich community tourism products – something that modern tourists are increasingly seeking.

Deputy Director Pham Van Thuy also pointed out several challenges such as the fragmented and uncoordinated nature of existing products; limited infrastructure in villages; uneven community accommodation services; weak promotional activities; and the need to improve the communication, service, and tourism skills of the local people. Frankly identifying these issues is crucial for formulating appropriate solutions in the coming period.

With its abundant natural and cultural potential, Quang Tri has the potential to develop unique tourism products such as community-based accommodation in Van Kieu - Pa Co villages, gong-playing experiences, handicraft training, trekking in the Truong Son forest, exploring streams, waterfalls, and forests, enjoying local cuisine, and connecting with historical tourism along the western branch of the Ho Chi Minh Trail. If properly developed and linked with travel businesses, these products will create a community tourism network with a distinct identity of the western mountainous region of Quang Tri.

"Strong coordination between the government, community, businesses, and experts is a prerequisite. The government sets policy direction; the community plays a central role in conservation and creating experiences; businesses bring products to market; and experts provide technical support and training. When these four elements are linked in synergy, community tourism in Quang Tri will develop sustainably and provide stable livelihoods for the people," Deputy Director Pham Van Thuy emphasized.

According to Ho Van Hoan, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Tri province, Quang Tri is a province with rich tourism potential, boasting a rich history and unique culture. However, the tourism industry still faces many challenges such as seasonality, limited human resources, and low efficiency in resource exploitation. To overcome these challenges, the province prioritizes the development of new products, especially community-based tourism in ethnic minority and mountainous areas – a strategic direction to exploit local resources and create sustainable livelihoods.

The belief in this model is based on three major advantages.

Firstly, Quang Tri currently has favorable conditions in terms of policy, as new policies clearly define the task of developing community-based tourism associated with ethnic minority villages and creating jobs for the people.

Secondly, the mountainous region possesses abundant natural resources such as primeval forests, waterfalls, Bang and Klu hot springs, along with a convenient transportation system, border crossings, and seaports that facilitate tourism connections.

Thirdly, the province possesses unique cultural resources with the Bru - Van Kieu, Ta Oi, and Chut communities, as well as over 700 historical and revolutionary relics.

During the period 2021-2025, community-based tourism has seen significant development with many exemplary models such as tours exploring Van Kieu culture in Coi Da and Cay Sung villages; experiencing the Ruc people; trekking in Khe Nuoc Trong, Cong Troi, and Pa Thien; along with traditional festival activities that attract tourists. Training and skill development for local people have also been effectively implemented.

However, the industry still faces challenges in infrastructure, service quality, connectivity, and digital transformation. To achieve sustainable development, the province proposes several solutions: improving policies; investing in green infrastructure; strengthening communication and digital transformation; and developing human resources, especially artisans and village elders. With the concerted efforts of all levels of government and the community, tourism in the mountainous region of Quang Tri is expected to make a breakthrough in the near future.

Sharing her views on leveraging national cultural values ​​in community tourism development, Dr. Trieu Thi Nhat, Lecturer at the Faculty of Tourism Management and International Languages, Hanoi University of Culture, stated that proper orientation, linking preservation with community livelihoods, local agricultural products, and tourism experiences with clear messages will help national cultural values ​​develop and be maintained.

Mr. Dao Duy Minh, Director of the Digital Transformation Tourism Project at VTC Netviet Technology and Communications Joint Stock Company, believes that to effectively promote and position community tourism brands on digital platforms, it is necessary to identify and convey the core, unique, and authentic values ​​of community tourism destinations online. Mr. Dao Duy Minh also introduced the 6C model for promoting community tourism brands: Authenticity - Story - Community - Digital Transformation - Marketing - Government.

Mr. Nguyen Van Cuong, Director of Digital Tourism Solutions at Vietsens Technology Group, introduced a platform supporting tourism management and business operations. This platform integrates data on destinations, accommodations, tourism products, customer markets, service capacity, safety and hygiene indicators, and tourist feedback, all collected and analyzed in real time, to improve decision-making efficiency.

For businesses, the platform serves as a comprehensive business support tool: from promotion and communication, service booking management, online payments, connecting supply and demand, to measuring operational efficiency. The platform also promotes digital transformation at the grassroots level, helping small businesses, especially local communities, access broader markets through digital content tools, product introductions, and connections with travel agencies.

With a focus on sustainable and smart tourism development, the foundation not only enhances the competitiveness of Vietnam's tourism industry but also creates a transparent, efficient, and synchronized environment for both management and business.

Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Pham Van Thuy, emphasized that community tourism must place the people at the center. The people are both the custodians of cultural identity and the direct participants in creating experiences for tourists. Developing tourism linked to the culture of ethnic minorities and creating livelihoods for the people needs to be implemented systematically and in an organized manner.

Based on that, the Vietnam National Tourism Administration proposes six main directions:

Firstly, it is necessary to develop model community-based tourism destinations in several Van Kieu - Pa Co villages that have favorable conditions in terms of landscape, culture, and community consensus. These model destinations will serve as examples for replication, ensuring standards, sustainability, and market suitability.

Secondly, the province needs to focus on standardizing service quality. Community-based tourism products must ensure safety, hygiene, friendliness, and preserve their original character. Training for local people in skills such as hospitality, homestay operation, cooking, tour guiding, problem-solving, and environmental protection should be implemented regularly and systematically.

Thirdly, it is necessary to develop integrated eco-cultural tourism routes, exploiting the advantages of the Truong Son mountain range and the Van Kieu - Pa Co village system. Trekking routes, forest exploration, visits to waterfalls and streams, combined with experiencing local culture, will create unique products suitable for young tourists and the international market.

Fourth, strengthen links with travel businesses in the Central and Central Highlands regions to form stable tour routes. Cooperation between businesses, government, and the community is a decisive factor in ensuring sustainable exploitation.

Fifth, strengthen communication and digital transformation. The province needs to support communities in building the image of their villages, products, and cultural stories on online platforms; guide people in filming, photography, and editing skills; develop fan pages or their own communication channels; and create promotional content in both Vietnamese and English. Digital communication will help products reach a wider market without relying on large resources.

Sixth, attention must be paid to cultural and environmental preservation. Community tourism must be based on the principle of "preservation for development – ​​development for preservation," avoiding excessive commercialization, maintaining the original characteristics of Van Kieu – Pa Co culture, and protecting the Truong Son ecosystem.

Mr. Pham Xuan Thuy affirmed that the Vietnam National Tourism Administration is committed to accompanying Quang Tri province in training activities, building model projects, supporting promotion and communication, connecting businesses, and proposing resources from the National Target Program. We hope to work with the province to create unique community tourism products bearing the distinct mark of the Van Kieu - Pa Co people, contributing to improving the lives of the local people and contributing to the socio-economic development of the province.

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/quang-tri-phat-trien-du-lich-cong-dong-ben-vung-mang-lai-sinh-ke-on-dinh-cho-nguoi-dan-20251214063602788.htm