Parallel development of agricultural tourism

Recently, Long My town organized the OCOP Tourism - Product Festival, with the expectation of having a new direction to exploit the "smokeless industry" in the locality.

Artisan Pham Thu Thuy builds a brand of OCOP standard sponge cake combined with introducing her hometown destination - Long My town.

Interesting suggestion

At the seminar "The role of agricultural tourism and opportunities for Long My town" within the series of activities of the Tourism Festival - OCOP Products of Long My town recently held, there was the participation of many researchers and travel service businesses.

Delegates all agreed that Long My town still has similarities with other districts, towns and cities in Hau Giang province, but still has its own characteristics, if exploited, there will be new stories to tell tourists. Mr. Tran Tuong Huy, Institute of Social Tourism Research, destination consultant, shared: "Long My town has the conditions to develop agricultural tourism, the locality needs to research to evaluate products, to choose typical products, different and attractive to tourists, suitable for the development trend of tourism. OCOP products are the first step and condition for developing agricultural tourism products".

Choosing and building is difficult, promoting the product is even more difficult, requiring agility and a new perspective. Localities need to transform their vegetable gardens, fish ponds, and rice fields and design them according to the characteristics of each place to create an ideal tourist destination. Besides, there is also the story of building an environmental landscape, so that every destination in the countryside is bright, green, clean, and beautiful. Mr. Tran Quang Duy, Director of Chim Canh Penguin Travel Service Company, emphasized: "To make a successful agricultural tourism product, it is necessary to take advantage of the available agricultural products of the locality to save initial costs. Besides, it is necessary to communicate about the product, especially to young people through social networks, to create a spreading power".

Author Nham Hung, who has many books about the land and people of Hau Giang, shares stories about traditional culture associated with tourism development, to enhance cultural values, promote traditions and local products. Historical stories, folklore, anecdotes... can all become stories to help tourists learn more about the land they experience. "This land will have many good stories to tell and I am sure that the culture and history of each land will be special stories if chosen correctly and told well," he emphasized.

Exploiting unique OCOP products

The town has 32 OCOP products that meet 3-star and 4-star standards. Among these, choosing products to invest in tourism services is entirely possible. However, to do so, it takes time and solutions.

Dr. Nguyen Van Hoang, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, co-founder of the Vietnam Tourism Research Network, said that Long My town as well as Hau Giang have the potential to develop tourism and OCOP products, but what needs to be done is to turn OCOP products into tourism products. Currently, there are very few OCOP products introduced in the tourism industry. Some destinations that have OCOP products to introduce to tourists lack the conditions. To solve this problem, the most important thing is still a systematic planning, focusing on areas developing agricultural tourism products that must have accompanying service infrastructure. Equally important is finding consultants and building products that truly keep up with the trend."

Long My town in particular, Hau Giang in general, has a lot of potential for tourism development. The town has typical products that can enhance the value and supplement many necessary conditions to become agricultural tourism products, such as tangerines, custard apples, melons... In particular, the town also has special cultural and historical spaces.

In recent years, the locality has gradually shaped and developed tourism in general, agricultural tourism in particular, although there are still difficulties and challenges. Mr. Nguyen Van Dien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Long My town, said: "The town focuses on building and gradually improving unique agricultural products. Calling for investment, creating favorable conditions for businesses to exploit tourism. In addition, creating opportunities for people to visit and learn from successful agricultural tourism models. We will also pay attention to improving the landscape environment, further promoting the strength of people's awareness to create a bright, green, clean and beautiful space. Gradually investing in farmers to develop community tourism in the direction of "flowery roads, houses with numbers", building and preserving ancient spaces associated with exploiting culinary strengths, traditional craft villages...".

Article and photos: VINH TRA

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