Decision-making dilemma. Lesson 5

Việt Nam•21/09/2023

But for that to become a reality, the central area must overcome the crucial obstacle of incorporating the lake's area into tourism development to diversify tours and routes, satisfying the need for closeness to nature and exploration of lakes, similar to some famous tourist destinations with waterfalls, lakes, and rivers across the country, rather than being "confined" to the shore.

Changing perceptions about tourism

Since the Bình Thuận Provincial Party Committee's base in Saloun, Đông Giang commune, opened, tourist crowds have flocked there on weekends. Provincial Road 22, the route to the ethnic minority communes of Hàm Thuận Bắc district, which was previously quiet, is now bustling with traffic. These sights have led the people of Đông Giang to better understand what was discussed at meetings of women, youth, and farmers about developing rural tourism. It's simply about selling products harvested from the forest, such as bamboo shoots, rattan sprouts, and bép leaves, or raising pigs, chickens, and ducks to tourists. There are two restaurants in the commune, which are the first outlets for these products. In the early stages of tourism development, Đông Giang commune officials also participated in tourism activities by connecting with the local people.

K'Van Tien, Chairman of the People's Committee of Dong Giang commune, said that many groups of tourists, before visiting the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee's base historical site, didn't know where to contact, so they called the commune for help... to arrange lunch for them. In the spirit of supporting tourism, commune officials contacted restaurants and mobilized local people to sell whatever products they had. This effort was necessary because tourists enjoy eating local specialties from the highlands. In another development, Mr. Tien said the commune is also planning to convert unused old classrooms in Hamlet 3, located on the road to the revolutionary base, into kiosks selling products for tourists. Although nothing remarkable has happened yet, commune officials believe that developing rural tourism will boost the economy of Dong Giang commune in the future.

Meanwhile, in Da Mi commune, there is a reluctance to conduct any tourism development awareness campaigns among the residents. “In reality, the people here are already developing tourism services spontaneously. Due to obstacles in land use rights conversion, there is no basis for promoting tourism development among the people. After the dialogue meeting with the people of Da Mi on the morning of September 21st, attended by the District Party Secretary and Chairman, the commune proposed a more suitable land allocation plan for the people. If approved by the competent authorities, it will create a boost for tourism development,” said Nguyen Anh Toan, Chairman of the Da Mi Commune People's Committee.

This is the direction taken by Da Mi and also aligns with the tourism development spirit that Ham Thuan Bac district has built in Plan 150 on implementing Plan No. 848/KH-UBND of the Provincial People's Committee and Plan No. 67-KH/HU of the District Party Committee (12th term), on tourism development until 2025, with orientation to 2030, issued in July 2022. It emphasizes: “District departments and agencies and the People's Committees of communes and towns should strengthen propaganda work and raise awareness that tourism development is the responsibility of the whole society; tourism is a comprehensive economic sector with profound cultural content, interdisciplinary and interregional characteristics, and high social participation, bringing positive results to socio-economic development; mobilizing the strength of the entire political system and the whole population to participate in tourism development.”

Visitors at the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee's revolutionary base historical site.

Gathering to create color

Plan 150 outlines specific goals, including completing the detailed tourism planning for Ham Thuan - Da Mi and Song Quao Lake by 2025; receiving and putting into operation the historical site of the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee's base during the resistance war against the US in Saloun, Dong Giang commune; attracting at least one investment project to the Ham Thuan - Da Mi tourism planning area and several areas with potential and advantages for developing ecotourism and community tourism such as lakes, dams, rivers, streams, ponds, fields bordering forests, etc. By 2030, the goal is to attract at least one investment project to the Song Quao Lake tourism planning area and continue to attract more investment projects in several areas with potential and advantages for developing ecotourism and community tourism. At the same time, it was determined that tourism would initially account for a significant proportion of the district's economic structure and contribute to achieving the goal of becoming a key economic sector, a pillar of socio-economic development for the province...

Based on that objective, the district also assigned departments and agencies to carry out tasks for developing rural tourism in the district. Specifically, this includes implementing road projects connecting communes, from the district center to National Highway 1 and connecting to the North-South Expressway (the section passing through the district), and in the short term, advising the District People's Committee to propose to the competent authorities to invest in completing the DT 714 road (the section in Dong Tien commune). It also involves planning investment in the electricity system to serve tourist areas; attracting investment to develop a network of markets, commercial centers, and convenience stores; and supporting the development of OCOP products, traditional handicrafts, craft villages, and distinctive local souvenirs…

Simultaneously, preserve, conserve, and develop nature reserves and protective forests to serve ecotourism, provide experiences of living in harmony with nature, and educate people about environmental protection. On the other hand, encourage and facilitate businesses, cooperatives, and individuals to invest in agricultural tourism, ecotourism, learning, research, and experiential activities in agriculture and forestry associated with the development of organic farming, high-tech agriculture, and forest care and development. At the same time, develop tourism products such as resort tourism, forest-waterfall-lake ecotourism, nature exploration tourism, agricultural ecotourism, and community tourism combined with homestay; linked to the restoration and development of the unique culture of the K'Ho ethnic group with characteristic products such as brocade weaving, gong culture, enjoying black pig cuisine, and sticky rice cooked in bamboo tubes...

Through this, a tourism chain connecting tourist destinations within the district with neighboring areas is gradually being formed. In fact, the inter-district tourism route between Tánh Linh, Hàm Thuận Bắc, and Phan Thiết City is already beginning to take shape. Notably, along this route, the Đa Mi area, centered around the Hàm Thuận and Đa Mi lakes, possesses inherent tourism potential. If developed, this potential will create a unique and distinctive feature for rural tourism in Hàm Thuận Bắc compared to other areas. However, to make this a reality, the central area must overcome the crucial obstacle of developing the lake area for tourism to diversify tours and routes, satisfying the demand for closeness to nature and exploration of lakes, similar to some famous lake and river tourism destinations nationwide, rather than being confined to the shore. This vibrancy will provide local people with jobs and good incomes through the sale of agricultural products. That is the ultimate goal set out in Plan 150.

"Creating favorable conditions for tourism and travel businesses, organizations, and individuals inside and outside the province to open tours and routes, especially tours exploring Song Quao Lake in Ham Tri commune and Da Mi Lake, Ham Thuan Lake in Da Mi commune, and other tourist destinations in the district" - Ham Thuan Bac District's Plan 150.

Lesson 1: The Highlands Call

Lesson 2: The Dilemma of Da Mi

Lesson 3: The side that does nothing, the side that longs for it.

Lesson 4: The "Path" We Will Take

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