Lack of OCOP tourism products

QTO - Although considered one of the localities with potential and advantages for tourism development, Quang Tri currently only has one tourism product recognized as a 3-star OCOP product. This reality demands that the locality take more groundbreaking steps in standardizing community tourism models and linking local specialties with the experiential journey of tourists.

When tourism becomes an OCOP product.

Located on the eastern branch of the Ho Chi Minh Highway, Len Chua Ecostay (Phong Nha commune) is one of the destinations for tourists from near and far whenever they visit the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park, a World Natural Heritage site. This eco-tourism area impresses with its expansive 6,700m2 green space and its location nestled against a majestic limestone mountain range.

Len Chua Ecostay currently features 21 modernly designed bungalows with complete amenities and unique architecture. Visitors can admire the majestic mountain scenery and enjoy a peaceful, relaxing atmosphere amidst nature. At Len Chua Ecostay, guests can also experience a variety of amenities and services such as restaurants, cafes, a swimming pool, a children's playground, an event area, and a zoo. In addition, guests can participate in outdoor BBQ activities, camping, organize events, and enjoy dishes with distinctive local flavors.

Len Chua Ecostay is the only tourist destination in the province to be recognized as a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) - Photo: D.N.

During holidays, Tet (Lunar New Year), and peak tourist seasons, Len Chua Ecostay is always a popular destination attracting a large number of tourists from both within and outside the province. With systematic investment, quality, and a focus on green and sustainable tourism development, in December 2024, Len Chua Ecostay was recognized as a 3-star OCOP standard tourism product.

This is not only a recognition of the unit's efforts but also affirms the position of a quality eco-tourism destination, contributing to enriching the tourism products of Phong Nha-Ke Bang and Quang Tri in general.

Mr. Dinh Xuan Hau, Director of Huyen Hau Trading and Service Co., Ltd., said: “Building Len Chua Ecostay into a 3-star OCOP product was not too difficult for us because, before starting to develop this tourist area, we aimed to build Len Chua Ecostay into a well-organized, high-quality eco-tourism and resort destination. The development of Len Chua Ecostay is linked to the natural landscape, environmental protection, and provides unique experiences for tourists. This has fully met the criteria for recognition as an OCOP product in the group of community tourism services, eco-tourism, and tourist destinations.”

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According to Mr. Hau, Len Chua Ecostay has provided regular employment for 18 local workers. This is also one of the important criteria that contributed to Len Chua Ecostay being recognized as an OCOP (One Commune One Product), and it affirms the effectiveness of the tourism development model linked to the community and sustainable development.

Not yet commensurate with its potential.

To date, Len Chua Ecostay is the only community-based ecotourism destination in the province to be recognized as a 3-star OCOP (One Commune One Product) standard. For a locality with significant potential and advantages for developing community-based and ecotourism, this is a very modest number. This indicates that the development of OCOP tourism products has not yet lived up to the local potential.

Implementing the "One Commune, One Product" program, the evaluation and recognition of OCOP products are currently applied to community tourism services, ecotourism, and tourist destinations. The aim is to encourage the development of rural tourism models towards professionalism and sustainability, improving service quality, increasing product value, and creating livelihoods for local people. These rural tourism models are linked to traditional cultural values, ecological landscapes, and local specialties, contributing to the preservation of local identity and promoting sustainable rural economic development.

Quang Tri province has set a goal to make tourism a key economic sector by 2030, making a significant contribution to the province's GRDP growth. The goal is not only about increasing the number of tourists but also about improving the quality of the experience, diversifying products, and developing green and responsible tourism. Therefore, the development of tourism products that meet OCOP standards is essential to achieving this goal.

In reality, many owners of tourist establishments are not very enthusiastic about OCOP certification. Participating in the OCOP star rating competition puts more pressure on them than the tangible benefits that OCOP brings. Preparing an application for OCOP tourism service certification requires a series of legal documents. Meanwhile, many tourists choose destinations based on trends, real-life reviews, and beautiful scenery, without truly considering whether a tourist destination meets OCOP standards.

Mr. Nguyen Quoc Tuan, Deputy Head of the Office for Coordinating New Rural Development and Deputy Director of the Department of Cooperative Economics and Rural Development, stated: Currently, many community tourism destinations, ecotourism sites, and tourist destinations in the province are still developing spontaneously and have not received systematic investment. Many local tourist destinations still face difficulties regarding legal basis due to the lack of permits for land use conversion, and some small-scale tourist destinations lack linkages, resulting in short stays for tourists and the failure to create a value chain...

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However, alongside these, there are many tourist destinations that have received systematic investment and meet the criteria. Therefore, the government and local authorities need to promote, guide, and support these tourist destinations to continuously improve their infrastructure and service quality towards achieving OCOP standards. Once recognized as an OCOP product, these tourist destinations will have the opportunity to access government support programs in training, trade promotion, digital transformation, branding, and market connectivity.

D. Nguyet

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/du-lich/202606/thieu-vang-san-pham-ocop-du-lich-8c44db8/