Experts advise on developing agricultural tourism in Nam Dan district

On the morning of December 4, in Nam Dan district, the General Department of Tourism coordinated with the Department of Tourism of Nghe An and the People's Committee of Nam Dan district to organize a discussion with the theme "Developing rural tourism products in Nam Dan district - Nghe An".

Delegates attending the discussion. Photo: Cong Kien

Attending the seminar were comrades: Ngo Hoai Chung - Deputy General Director of the General Department of Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism); Nguyen Dao Dung - Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism (General Department of Tourism); tourism experts, representatives of travel companies in the provinces in the country.

On the side of Nghe An province, there were representatives of the Department of Tourism; leaders of Nam Dan district, tourism businesses; leaders of communes with agricultural tourism models in Nam Dan district.

Agricultural tourism still lacks professionalism

In his opening speech, Mr. Ngo Hoai Chung - Deputy Director General of the General Department of Tourism affirmed that in recent years, tourism activities exploiting elements from the agricultural production sector have accounted for a large proportion in the tourism industry structure. Some agricultural tourism products have become brands, some tourism business models combined with agricultural exploitation have been successful, contributing to the economic and social development in many localities.

Comrade Ngo Hoai Chung - Deputy General Director of the General Department of Tourism affirmed that the exploitation of agricultural tourism products still mainly relies on natural resources, ecological environment, extensive development, and lack of professionalism. Photo: Cong Kien

Nghe An is a province with many advantages in developing agricultural production, due to its large rural agricultural area. Nam Dan district is one of four districts in the country selected by the Government as a model for building a new rural district in the period of 2018 - 2025 in the direction of "Developing culture associated with tourism".

However, the exploitation of agricultural tourism products still mainly relies on resources, ecological environment, extensive development, lack of professionalism, and the socio-economic efficiency of agricultural tourism activities is not commensurate with the potential.

Leaders of the General Department of Tourism, Nghe An Department of Tourism and Nam Dan district chaired the discussion. Photo: Cong Kien

Seminar Program "Developing rural tourism products"Nam Dan district- Nghe An" aims to discuss solutions to contribute to improving the quality of new rural construction in Nam Dan district, preserving and promoting cultural values, and driving socio-economic development through tourism activities...

At the seminar, leaders of the Department of Tourism and Nam Dan district introduced the potential, current situation and orientation of tourism development, including:rural tourismat the local level. At the same time, recommend support, investment, connection, human resource training and "advice" for sustainable development of rural tourism.

Finding a sustainable direction

Before the seminar, from December 1 to 3, the working group of the General Department of Tourism conducted a survey of a number of tourist attractions in the two districts of Nam Dan and Con Cuong.

From the survey, delegates expressed their opinions, exchanged and evaluated the potential and current status of rural tourism exploitation in Nghe An; evaluated the ability to link tourism product development between Nam Dan district and other localities in the province and in the region.

The delegation of the General Department of Tourism experienced the production process of Nam Dan specialty soy sauce. Photo: Tuong Anh

At the same time, it points out the difficulties and obstacles in exploiting and developing tourism products in Nghe An. From there, propose breakthrough solutions to improve the effectiveness of promoting and advertising Nghe An tourism in general, and rural tourism in Nam Dan in particular to create attraction fortouristsdomestic and foreign

Many lotus ponds in Nam Dan have become favorite destinations for many tourists. Photo courtesy of Quoc Dan

Notably, Dr. Ngo Kieu Oanh - Independent consultant on agricultural and rural tourism said that Nam Dan needs to exploit lotus products as a key product to develop tourism. Because lotus is closely associated withUncle Ho's hometownSo we need to focus on building a harmonious space between the colors and fragrances of lotus flowers, building lotus roads, and making lotus products to attract tourists, helping visitors feel the unique beauty of Uncle Ho's homeland.

Dr. Ngo Kieu Oanh said that Nam Dan needs to exploit lotus products as a key product to develop tourism. Photo: Cong Kien

“The problem here is to build transport infrastructure, accommodation facilities, develop more flower fields and connect with tourist attractions inside and outside the province, build tours and routes to have a stable number of visitors.”

Dr. Ngo Kieu Oanh

From the perspective of a travel business, Mr. Le Diep Thanh Tung from Ninh Thuan province proposed the solution of building a typical product, along with lotus, bamboo is also a typical product of Vietnamese villages in general and Nghe An in particular. Therefore, Nghe An needs to research and manufacture products from bamboo so that tourists have the opportunity to experience, thereby building a local agricultural tourism brand.

At the discussion, many opinions suggested that Nghe An province and Nam Dan district continue to develop flower fields to create attractive spaces to attract tourists. Photo: Cong Kien

Besides, some opinions suggest that the solution to develop rural tourism products in Nam Dan needs to be combined with other types of tourism.culture, spirituality, to have more attractive destinations, increase the length of stay for tourists...

At the end of the discussion, the leaders of Nghe An Department of Tourism received the advice and contributions of the delegates and hoped that the leaders of the General Department of Tourism, experts and businesses would support, invest, connect, train human resources and give advice for sustainable development of rural tourism in the locality.