Great potential to be exploited

Thanh Hoa has all three ecological zones with large agricultural land areas. In particular, there are also different weather sub-zones, suitable for the growth characteristics of many types of crops and livestock, at the same time contributing to bringing tourists interesting experiences when choosing agricultural tourism products.

Golden Cow Farm (Thuong Xuan) - an attractive destination for tourists.

Thanh Hoa tourism has been developing strongly to become one of the national tourism centers. In particular, developing agricultural tourism products is identified by the province as an important task to promote product diversification, expand the tourism network and system.

Agricultural tourism is an experiential tourism model built with agricultural production activities at the farm or ranch as the focus, serving customers with local entertainment oreducational needs. Coming here, visitors can visit and directly participate in agricultural activities such as planting, harvesting, processing agricultural products...

Nowadays, agricultural tourism in many localities is widely welcomed by tourists because it brings them new and attractive experiences and meets the needs of "green" tourism.

Meanwhile, Thanh Hoa is a province with all 3 ecological regions (mountainous, plain and coastal), with a large agricultural land area (accounting for over 80% of the total natural area). More specifically, Thanh Hoa has different weather sub-regions, suitable for the growth characteristics of many types of crops and livestock, at the same time contributing to bringing tourists interesting experiences when choosing agricultural tourism products.

Up to now, some localities in the province have exploited and developed a number of agricultural tourism models that attract visitors, bringing high economic efficiency associated with sightseeing activities, experiencing and learning about culture such as: Golden Cow Farm (Thuong Xuan), Queen Farm (Quang Xuong), T-Farm Farm (Dong Son), Yen Trung Tourist Village (Yen Dinh), clean vegetable growing experience program in Yen Le commune (Nhu Xuan), high-tech fruit tree growing agricultural model in Thach Thanh and Tho Xuan districts... Along with that are a number of agricultural tourism products combined with community tourism of ethnic minorities in Don village, Hieu village, Kho Muong village (Ba Thuoc), Nang Cat village (Lang Chanh)... In addition, there are many OCOP products that have become familiar to tourists such as Viet Trang sedge mats (Nga Son), Ba Hoan fish sauce (Hoang Hoa), Quy Huong yellow sticky rice (Dong Son)... This is considered an important premise for localities to develop. In the province, promote the development of agricultural tourism products in a complete direction, from sightseeing, dining, experiencing to product shopping.

However, besides the achieved results, the province's agricultural tourism still clearly shows limitations and difficulties such as: The infrastructure system is not yet synchronized, making it difficult for tourists to access destinations and products; products are still simple, spontaneous, and small-scale; the connection between localities, destinations with travel agencies, and businesses in product development and promotion is not unified...

Tourists come to Yen Trung Tourist Village (Yen Dinh).

With great potential and requirements for developing agricultural tourism, some tourism experts believe that Thanh Hoa province needs to have specific analysis, assessment of current situation, opportunities and challenges. From there, propose orientations and synchronous solutions to promote the development of this type of tourism in the mountainous, plain and coastal areas of the province.

Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Duc Thuan said: “First of all, it is necessary to continue to effectively implement the policies of the Central Government, the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People's Council and the Provincial People's Committee on agricultural development, promoting the development of key products in the fields of cultivation, livestock, forestry and aquaculture. Along with that, focus on implementing the OCOP program to develop traditional products, local specialties, and rural products into standard goods, thereby affirming the product brand associated with the crystallization of Thanh Hoa's cultural values. In addition, it is necessary to promote the development of craft village tourism in the direction of transforming from a purely economic activity into a tourist attraction and focusing on organizing experiential activities for tourists".

In Thanh Hoa in particular and the whole country in general, agricultural tourism has recently emerged as a tourism trend in the new situation. In addition to the general trend, tourism development in some localities in the province is currently focusing on some key aspects such as: Exploiting the outstanding value of agricultural production activities to form destinations and tourism products; linking value chains to enhance tourists' experiences; harmonizing the interests of participants, while at the same time linking with the interests of the local community; applying technology and digital transformation to building and promoting destinations...

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Truc Quynh, Head of the Faculty of Tourism, Thanh Hoa University of Culture, Sports and Tourism: Building agricultural tourism products to become one of the province's strong tourism products still has many difficulties, but there are also many potentials and favorable conditions that need to be exploited. First of all, it is necessary to promote propaganda work to raise people's awareness of the characteristics of agricultural tourism. In particular, it is necessary to emphasize the advantages in developing agricultural tourism and point out the difficulties and challenges of this type of tourism.

In addition, authorities at all levels need to promote the role of ownership, attract people to participate and benefit from tourism activities. In addition, increase the organization of short-term training courses, combined with learning experiences in developing agricultural tourism models in some localities in the country, especially those with similar conditions to gain experience in building and developing agricultural tourism in the locality. Only then will the province's agricultural tourism products have more opportunities to develop and receive positive response and participation from local people - the subject that creates the attractiveness of this unique tourism product.

Article and photos: Hoai Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/du-lich/du-lich-nong-nghiep-xu-thanh-tiem-nang-lon-can-phat-huy/209134.htm