Ready for the "golden season" of experiential travel

♦ Sir, along with the Central Highlands localities, the West Dak Lak region is preparing for the dry season. This is also an opportunity to restructure tourism activities, especially to guide tourists to experience and explore nature, linking outdoor tourism with agricultural ecology. How do you view this issue?

The dry season in the Central Highlands is always considered the “golden season” of experiential tourism . The weather is dry, the sun is warm, the landscape of forests, lakes, waterfalls and villages are most evident. I think this is a favorable time to restructure the tourism products of the Central Highlands in general and Dak Lak in particular, especially in the group of products experiencing nature associated with agricultural ecology, towards a sustainable model, expressing local identity.

The reason I think so is because:

Firstly, market trends are changing dramatically. According to a recent assessment of the tourism industry, the group of green tourism products - outdoor experiences - agriculture - community accounts for a growth rate of 15 - 25%/year and is chosen by many domestic and international tourists after the pandemic. This is an opportunity for Dak Lak tourism to shift its focus to products with key advantages, such as forests, lakes, waterfalls, coffee - cocoa - durian farms, associated with traditional cultural experiences of local ethnic minorities.

Second, the dry season brings particularly favorable conditions for the formation of trekking, camping, glamping, farm experiences, off-road sports, eco-tourism products, specifically at Yok Don National Park, Lak Lake, Dray Nur and Dray Sap waterfalls... Combining outdoor tourism with agriculture not only enriches the itinerary but also prolongs the length of stay and makes tourists spend more - something Dak Lak is very much looking forward to.

Accordingly, the provincial culture, tourism and sports sector plans to focus on restructuring tourism activities this season according to three main groups of solutions:

Firstly, restructuring products, with the main spirit of identifying natural and cultural resources as the main pillars; prioritizing the development of controlled ecological, agricultural and adventure community tourism products and paying attention to developing night tourism products, seasonal products and long-term tours.

Second, restructuring the participation model, including linking businesses - communities - farmers - forest management units; supporting indigenous people to participate in building tourism service supply chains and improving professionalism, safety and quality at destinations.

Third, restructuring towards sustainable development, with the spirit of "development without trading off resources"; tourism contributes to protecting forests, protecting the environment, preserving cultural values and spaces, especially creating livelihoods for local people and strictly managing outdoor activities according to environmentally and socially responsible tourism standards.

The goal is not only to exploit but also to restructure so that Dak Lak tourism goes in the right direction: greener, more unique, more professional and more sustainable, thereby effectively contributing to local economic growth.

Foreign tourists experience friendly tourism with elephants. Photo: Huu Hung

♦ Adventure tourism and sports tourism are currently of great interest to the community. What preparations has the Dak Lak Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism made to exploit these types of tourism, sir?

Adventure tourism and outdoor community sports are the new trend of world tourism and we identify this as one of the potential product directions of Dak Lak. The terrain of mountains, forests, lakes, rapids, rivers, streams, canyons… are the great advantages to develop these types.

In recent times, Dak Lak tourism has proactively coordinated with localities and businesses to prepare necessary conditions, focusing on three groups of solutions:

Firstly, in terms of tourism products, we are building and expanding unique products such as trekking in the dipterocarp forest, climbing Yok Don mountain, SUP, kayaking, rubber rafting, dugout canoes on large lakes and along the Serepok River; driving cars, mountain bikes to conquer waterfalls, and off-road running associated with the landscape and village culture. The goal is to create new, safe, highly experiential products that attract young people and international visitors.

Currently, some adventure sports tourism products have been recognized and exploited stably, such as rafting at the Dray Sap Thuong - Dray Nur waterfall cluster (Trung Nguyen Healing Tourism Investment Company Limited) and rafting across the Serepok River (Buon Don Suspension Bridge Tourism Center). These are professional, safe and unique experiences.

Second, regarding safety - management - standards, we determine that for adventure tourism, it must be given top priority. Along with expanding products, the Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism of Dak Lak also urges units to send staff for professional training, improve rescue skills for tour guides, and coordinate with functional agencies to build a set of safety criteria for adventure tourism activities. This set of criteria is in the process of completion, aiming to become a basis for guiding, inspecting and licensing activities, ensuring absolute safety for tourists.

Third, organize community sports events - programs that connect sports with tourism and local culture, integrate sports tourism into cultural events and festivals, encourage community sports models such as caravans, cycling, marathons, and activities related to nature conservation, to spread the movement of green and healthy living. This is also a way to mobilize people to become participants and benefit from tourism.

With the preparations underway, we believe that sports tourism and adventure tourism will become a new highlight, contributing positively to extending the tourist season, truly making Dak Lak a destination of interesting experiences.

♦ Thank you.

Nguyen Duc (performed)

Source: https://baodaklak.vn/phong-su-ky-su/202511/san-sang-cho-mua-vang-du-lich-trai-nghiem-5e100d9/