My Son community-based tourism village opens to tourists
A new community-based tourism village near the World Cultural Heritage My Son Sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam officially opens its service to tourists today. This is part of the project Strengthening of Inland Tourism in Quang Nam between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Quang Nam Province, which is contributing to the promotion of pro-poor tourism in Viet Nam.
MY SON, QUANG NAM (ILO News)- A new community-based tourism village near the World Cultural Heritage My Son Sanctuary in the central province of Quang Nam officially opens its service to tourists today. This is part of the project Strengthening of Inland Tourism in Quang Nam between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and Quang Nam Province, which is contributing to the promotion of pro-poor tourism in Viet Nam.
My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An Ancient Town, and Quang Nam’s 125 km stretch of white sand beaches all help to charm and attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists annually to the province, bringing significant growth to the provincial tourism industry. However, poor communities such as those living around the My Son site benefit little from tourism growth as visitors spend most of their day trip in the sanctuary area only.
The My Son community-based tourism model was set up to address this problem. The aim is to maximize the local tourism potential around the My Son Sanctuary while generating income and employment for the local community. The My Son community-based tourism village will offer tourists a homestay, catering and tour-guide service, as well as other environmental friendly and sustainable tourism activities such as mountain trekking, or kayaking in the nearby Thach Ban Lake.
Promoting tourism beyond Quang Nam’s iconic attractions has become the provincial focus for other inland districts. "Quang Nam has set a goal to maximize tourism potentials to contribute more to the provincial economic growth, poverty reduction and job creation for the province’s remote and poor areas," said provincial People Committee Vice Chairman Tran Minh Ca.
In addition to My Son community-based tourism village, the project also supports two other Catu ethnic minority villages, Bhoong and Droong of Dong Giang District. These two villages will officially open their services to tourists in June.
All of these pro-poor tourism models are being piloted with public-private partnership cooperation, linking local authorities, communities and a private tourism company. This promises a sustainable approach with potential to scale up, contributing to pro-poor tourism development in Viet Nam. After being piloted in Quang Nam Province, it is expected that this intervention can lead to a model for the project to share and inspire similar communities across Viet Nam.
“Tourism, if properly developed could and should have a positive impact on poor and disadvantaged people and communities and become a powerful tool to reduce poverty and inequalities,” said Mr Marc Franck, Charge d’affairs a.i of the Luxembourg Embassy in Viet Nam. “Our aim is to prove that tourism can be developed off the beaten track in a more equitable way and in partnership with local communities which have, so far, not benefitted from this rapidly developing sector.”
Through this US$1.3 million project, the Luxembourg Government, together with the ILO, expected to develop best practices which can be replicated beyond Quang Nam Province and Viet Nam in countries like Laos where Luxembourg development cooperation is very active.
My Son Sanctuary, Hoi An Ancient Town, and Quang Nam’s 125 km stretch of white sand beaches all help to charm and attract millions of domestic and foreign tourists annually to the province, bringing significant growth to the provincial tourism industry. However, poor communities such as those living around the My Son site benefit little from tourism growth as visitors spend most of their day trip in the sanctuary area only.
The My Son community-based tourism model was set up to address this problem. The aim is to maximize the local tourism potential around the My Son Sanctuary while generating income and employment for the local community. The My Son community-based tourism village will offer tourists a homestay, catering and tour-guide service, as well as other environmental friendly and sustainable tourism activities such as mountain trekking, or kayaking in the nearby Thach Ban Lake.
Promoting tourism beyond Quang Nam’s iconic attractions has become the provincial focus for other inland districts. "Quang Nam has set a goal to maximize tourism potentials to contribute more to the provincial economic growth, poverty reduction and job creation for the province’s remote and poor areas," said provincial People Committee Vice Chairman Tran Minh Ca.
In addition to My Son community-based tourism village, the project also supports two other Catu ethnic minority villages, Bhoong and Droong of Dong Giang District. These two villages will officially open their services to tourists in June.
All of these pro-poor tourism models are being piloted with public-private partnership cooperation, linking local authorities, communities and a private tourism company. This promises a sustainable approach with potential to scale up, contributing to pro-poor tourism development in Viet Nam. After being piloted in Quang Nam Province, it is expected that this intervention can lead to a model for the project to share and inspire similar communities across Viet Nam.
“Tourism, if properly developed could and should have a positive impact on poor and disadvantaged people and communities and become a powerful tool to reduce poverty and inequalities,” said Mr Marc Franck, Charge d’affairs a.i of the Luxembourg Embassy in Viet Nam. “Our aim is to prove that tourism can be developed off the beaten track in a more equitable way and in partnership with local communities which have, so far, not benefitted from this rapidly developing sector.”
Through this US$1.3 million project, the Luxembourg Government, together with the ILO, expected to develop best practices which can be replicated beyond Quang Nam Province and Viet Nam in countries like Laos where Luxembourg development cooperation is very active.