Golden time for community-based tourism development

Socioeconomic benefits

According to the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism (VNAT), community-based tourism emerged in Vietnam in 1997 in several provinces and cities, such as Hoa Binh, Lao Cai, and Quang Nam, and has since expanded across the entire country. By 2020, about 300 villages and hamlets had engaged in community-based tourism activities nationwide, with over 5,000 homestays accommodating nearly 100,000 guests.

Community-based tourism helps preserve traditional cultural values - Photo: Nam Nguyen

Currently, several localities in Vietnam are successfully developing community-based tourism. Examples include the Da Bia Community Tourism Village in Hoa Binh Province, the Thai Hai Ecological Stilt House Village Conservation Area in Thai Nguyen Province, the Sin Suoi Ho Community Tourism Village in Lai Chau Province, and the Tan Thanh Fishing Village Tourism Community in Quang Nam Province. These models have been honored with the ASEAN Community-Based Tourism Award and are attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.

According to the VNAT, community-based tourism has brought significant socioeconomic benefits to local communities by creating jobs, increasing income, improving living standards, and reducing poverty.

Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asia Tourism Development Institute, said that after more than two years of crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) believes rural areas will offer a great opportunity for tourism recovery. Tourists increasingly seek new, less-crowded destinations where they can experience authentic cultural spaces, learn about traditional customs and practices, and immerse themselves in production activities of local communities. “Therefore, this can be considered a golden time to develop community-based and eco-tourism in Vietnam,” Pham Hai Quynh said.

Developing key products

Despite the attention and investment from local authorities, community-based tourism development remains limited. According to Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of the Faculty of Tourism Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities - Hanoi, the greatest weakness of community-based tourism is its spontaneous development, lacking direction and selectivity. As a result, many tourism products are created with limited creativity and often follow a formulaic approach. Despite differences between localities in terms of geography and living customs, the tourism products tend to be similar, lacking distinct appeal.

Community-based tourism contributes to improving sustainable livelihoods - Photo: Nam Nguyen

To seize the golden opportunity to promote community-based tourism amid the rising demand for green and sustainable tourism, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently issued Decision 3222/QD-BVHTTDL, approving the project to develop community-based tourism in Vietnam proposed by the Director of the VNAT. The project is aimed at developing community-based tourism as a key product of Vietnam’s tourism; preserving and diversifying local trades, and improving livelihoods for local residents, especially in mountainous areas with large ethnic minority populations, border, coastal, and island areas.

The goal of the project is that by 2030, community-based tourism products will have been available in major tourism centers with high numbers of visitors. Each new rural district with tourism potential is expected to establish at least one model of community-based tourism linked with the construction of new rural areas. At least 10 percent of traditional craft villages in each new rural district are expected to have OCOP (One Commune, One Product) items associated with community-based tourism.

To achieve these objectives, the project outlines seven specific measures, focusing on upgrading infrastructure at community-based tourism sites with high potential to attract visitors, and investing in technical facilities. Notably, the project specifies plans to support connections and attract tourists, promote digital transformation and smart technology, and integrate e-commerce into community-based tourism product development. It also aims to connect businesses, investors, and tourist markets with community-based tourism sites./.