Create specialized products to develop tourism in global geoparks

Photo caption

Dong Van Stone Plateau. Photo: VNA

Preserving and effectively exploiting the resource values of global geoparks

Geotourism is one of the new tourism trends in Vietnam, associated with green tourism, community ecology, agriculture , responsible tourism, and education and scientific research. These are sustainable tourism types that the Party, the Government, the tourism industry and localities are interested in developing.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Binh, Deputy Director of the Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism, shared: Global Geopark is a noble title recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) according to strict criteria, standards and conditions, assessed, re-evaluated and re-recognized every 4 years. Therefore, the honored global geoparks have great advantages in economic , social, cultural, educational development, sustainable development, heritage conservation and tourism development, increasing prestige to promote and attract domestic and international tourists.

Dr. Nguyen Thi Binh said that the workshop is an opportunity for experts to share about the value of geological heritage, unique and characteristic tourism resources, assess the current status of conservation and promotion of resource values at global geoparks; thereby providing orientations, solutions and recommendations for sustainable tourism development at global geoparks in Vietnam, contributing opinions on related issues such as: Active conservation and heritage management, linking businesses and communities to create tourism product value, connecting infrastructure - routes - clusters - points and regional linkages...

To date, Vietnam has had 4 geoparks recognized by UNESCO and admitted to the Global Geopark Network, including: Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark; Cao Bang Non Nuoc Geopark, Dak Nong Geopark and Lang Son Geopark. Each park has its own unique and characteristic values in terms of geology, geomorphology, stratigraphy, paleontology, minerals, tectonic structures, biodiversity, etc., as well as cultural, tourism and community cultural resource values. The diversity and uniqueness of natural and cultural resources have created great advantages and potential for localities to exploit and develop tourism.

In fact, localities have been focusing on the conservation and effective exploitation of global geopark resource values to develop tourism. Some resources have been exploited and developed into famous tourist areas and tourist attractions, attracting tourists such as: Tu San Grand Canyon, Thach Son Than Stone Sculpture Garden, Ma Pi Leng Pass, Tham Ma Slope, Moon Rock Beach, Quang Ba Twin Mountains, Lo Lo Chai, Lung Cam, H'Mong Pa Vi tourist villages... in Dong Van Stone Plateau Geopark; Basalt Geological Heritage of Ma Phuc Pass; Khau Khoang Pass stratigraphic unconformity; Ban Gioc Waterfall karst landscape and geomorphological heritage, Nguom Ngao Cave, Thang Hen underground lake - river - cave complex, Pac Bo historical relic site, Khuoi Ky stone village, Na Vi ancient stone village... in Non Nuoc Cao Bang Geopark; Volcanic system, volcanic caves, Dray Sap - Gia Long waterfall system, Luu Ly waterfall, Lieng Nung waterfall, Ta Dung lake in Dak Nong Geopark; Mau Son mountain, Na Duong valley, Bac Son Karst landscape, Tam Thanh cave, Tham Khuyen - Tham Hai cave archaeological site, Huu Lien community cultural village in Lang Son Geopark.

Developing tourism in UNESCO Global Geoparks in Vietnam

Dr. Le Quang Dang (Vietnam Institute of Culture, Arts, Sports and Tourism) said that tourism development in global geoparks in Vietnam has achieved many encouraging results in recent times. Tourism has made an important contribution to promoting local socio-economic development, attracting tourists, increasing tourism revenue, creating jobs and sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and promoting the cultural land and people of the locality. However, tourism development in UNESCO global geoparks in Vietnam is still facing many difficulties and challenges; especially in the conservation and effective promotion of resource values, tourism product development, tourist markets, tourism infrastructure and technical facilities development, route connection, linkage, cooperation, promoting the role of the community, and human resource development.

Dr. Le Quang Dang affirmed that there needs to be a synchronous solution from state management agencies, local authorities, the tourism business community and local people to solve the above "difficult problems".

Associate Professor, Dr. Nguyen Thi Nguyen Hong, University of Commerce, said that the local community plays an important role in geotourism activities. Currently, people directly or indirectly participate in tourism activities in localities, but the rate is still low (about 17%). To develop geotourism, in addition to investing in infrastructure, attracting the support of travel businesses... the local community needs to be strengthened with training and fostering tourism skills associated with indigenous knowledge and ethnic culture to be more "proactive" in participating in tourism activities at all stages: designing, operating, promoting... typical tourism products.

According to Mr. Vu Van Tuyen, Director of Travelogy Vietnam Tourism Company, if the geopark is considered "an outdoor museum", the travel agency is the narrator who helps tourists understand and feel the "soul of the rock". Therefore, pioneering travel agencies have designed many geological tours, combined with local cultural experiences, and made efforts to create tourism products associated with geology that are different from conventional tourism. From geological resources of rocks - caves - mountains, businesses have turned them into tourism products that bring vivid experiences with emotions and learning values to tourists. In the transition period from exploiting potential to professional, sustainable development and international integration, Vietnam needs to have a comprehensive strategy and a multi-sectoral coordination mechanism in which travel agencies play a key role, accompanying the State and local management boards.

At the workshop, experts also contributed ideas for developing UNESCO Global Geopark tourism in Vietnam such as: building specialized tourism products, directly linked to geological heritage values, thereby creating a distinct mark compared to other types of tourism; strengthening training and developing local tourism human resources, enhancing the application of digital technology in geological tourism areas, promoting communication and international cooperation; developing tourism to ensure the principles of conservation associated with sustainable development...

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/tao-san-pham-chuyen-biet-phat-trien-du-lich-tai-cac-cong-vien-dia-chat-toan-cau-20251024115907826.htm