Experts and businessmen advise on sustainable development of Ky Son tourism

Dr. Vi Van An - Institute of Ethnology and Anthropology

“In the master plan for tourism development in general, and community tourism in particular, it is necessary to prioritize investment in key and feasible projects, avoiding spreading out. Accordingly, first of all, Ky Son district should focus on some historical relics and outstanding landscapes such as: Puxailaileng Peak, border market (Nam Can), Pơmu forest (Tay Son), Yen Hoa ancient tower (My Ly), Muong Long.

In tourism development, the first important issue is infrastructure, including: traffic system, means of transport, accommodation, living facilities, sanitation, clean water, telecommunications and other related services. Strengthen, maintain and gradually expand community tourism models, Homestays in Muong Long, My Ly and in some craft villages.

Support and maintain craft villages: Weaving in Noong De village (Nam Can), Na Loi village, Pieng Lau village (Na Loi), Xop Thap village, Na village (Huu Lap)…; weaving in Dinh Son 1 village, Huoi Tho village (Huu Kiem commune). Maintain the blacksmithing of the Mong people in Muong Long, Nam Can.

At community tourism sites, based on the strengths of each ethnic group, it is necessary to enhance the exploitation of traditional cultural values ​​in terms of tangible and intangible cultural elements, including: Preserving traditional stilt houses and ground-floor houses, upgrading roads, sanitation, clean water, orchards, village spaces, and community spiritual worship sites.

Support, strengthen and maintain folk song and dance clubs, mass art troupes in existing villages; gradually expand to homestays and craft villages in communes in the district, to meet the needs of tourists.

In Sustainable Development, there are 3 areas: Economy, Society and Environment. Therefore, in addition to the overall and synchronous planning, all types of tourism in general and community tourism in particular need to be organized and managed scientifically and professionally, protect the environment, and reasonably exploit traditional cultural values ​​to attract and serve customers best.

Dr. Ngo Kieu Oanh - travel consultant

“Ky Son district needs to add to the master plan the integration of tourism products and activities into plans such as transportation, agriculture, forestry, commerce, culture, education, and vocational training in a systematic manner. Qualitatively identify potential areas for developing agricultural and rural tourism.

On that basis, there are support policies to ensure the construction of agricultural and rural tourism models with identity, efficiency and feasibility. From there, there are specific policies to highlight endogenous strength to attract external forces, namely investment sources.

It is necessary to find every measure to attract external resources from finance to intelligence and brainpower to the Ky Son countryside, especially the children of Nghe An who work far away, to create new vitality as a driving force for development, with a concentrated source of intelligence to turn the Ky Son mountainous countryside into a useful space for all subjects.

And when preparing to turn the agricultural and rural areas of Ky Son into famous tourist destinations as well as becoming a livable countryside that attracts investors and tourists, there must be very careful preparation so that the rural space is not broken or disturbed.

The district needs to exploit two majestic mountain landscape tourism routes: Muong Xen - Muong Long and Muong Xen - Na Ngoi, because according to the assessment, these two routes are more convenient and safer than other routes. Focus on detailed planning, construction and exploitation of two rural agricultural tourism destinations early to gain reputation.

After that, continue to exploit other tourist attractions such as Nam Can border market, the only border market at Vietnam's border gates that is a Vietnamese-Lao food and agricultural market; Noong De traditional brocade weaving village still has more than a hundred stilt houses, most of which are original, of 113 Thai ethnic families located near the Nam Can border market.

Muong Long Commune is 60 km from the center of Ky Son district, the destination of a beautiful road, flanked by majestic mountain ranges covered with dense primeval forests up to 2000 meters high, passing through a number of residential villages. The road is quite safe because most of the road is not too close to the cliff, traffic is stable.

Muong Long's strengths are its temperate climate, cool all year round and fertile basalt soil, plus its cultural identity preserved purely by generations of Mong ethnic families. There are agricultural and tourism cooperatives with specialty products such as medicinal herbs, vegetables, temperate flowers, pigs, black chickens and organic beef in the highland valleys.

Mr. Lai Van Toan - Deputy Director of Doan Anh Duong Development Joint Stock Company

“Ky Son, a remote border district, has a harsh climate and rugged terrain, difficult transportation, and limited education. However, when viewed from another perspective, Ky Son is a land full of cultural values, with potential for tourism development and the prospect of helping the district gradually escape poverty.

Despite the difficulties and challenges, Ky Son is a unique destination with stunning natural landscapes. The wildness and grandeur of the mountains, forests, waterfalls and lakes create an attractive and enchanting natural picture. This creates great potential for the development of the tourism industry, and at the same time brings economic opportunities and jobs to the local community.

In addition, Ky Son also has a unique cultural identity. It is home to ethnic minorities with their own customs, habits and traditions. Visitors can explore and experience these diverse cultures, from traditional costumes, handicrafts to vibrant festivals, creating a unique and profound travel experience.

With our experience, we would like to give some suggestions on innovative ways to develop Ky Son destination. First of all, it is necessary to have consistent policies and guidelines from the provincial, district to local levels and refer to successful sustainable tourism models.

An important starting point is to understand and respect the culture, customs and practices of the local community. This ensures that tourists and tourism activities do not negatively impact traditional culture. To develop community-based tourism, it is necessary to create employment opportunities for local people, this can be achieved through training and skills development for local people, helping them participate in the tourism industry and benefit from it.

It is necessary to establish environmental protection measures, strictly manage the use of resources and educate tourists on the importance of environmental protection; establish close cooperation with local communities, create communication mechanisms, listen to opinions and participate of local people in the process of deciding and implementing tourism activities.

To attract tourists and facilitate the development of community tourism, it is necessary to invest in tourism infrastructure such as roads, hotels, motels, restaurants and other support services. Use effective advertising and marketing tools such as websites, social networks, professional tour guides and tourism distribution channels...

Ms. Vi Thi Tham - Director of Western Nghe An Tourism Coordination Center

“Ky Son is located in the Western Nghe An region, so the development of local tourism cannot be separated from the districts and towns in the region. On the way to explore Tay Nghe, it is always an attractive destination, an interesting stop for tourists. Therefore, the important issue in the process of developing tourism in Ky Son is to strengthen the connection with destinations in the Western Nghe An region.

Tourist areas and destinations need to change their thinking and raise awareness of connectivity. With the current trend, tourists do not just visit one place but want to experience many places with different tourism products. Destinations on the same route need to find their own strengths, unique characteristics and uniqueness to connect with each other, helping each other grow.

To connect destinations on the same route, tourism products are a very decisive factor in attracting tourists. Normally, destinations in the same region share the same tourism resources, have similarities in nature and culture. Therefore, each destination needs to create tourism products with its own identity and value.

The planning must be comprehensive, systematic, appropriate and have legal value, with strict regulations and principles. Communes selected to develop tourism need to research and unify the types, products and tourism services of their locality based on their own culture and identity, creating unique, impressive and attractive products, avoiding duplication that causes boredom for tourists.

Besides, it is necessary to strengthen connections between travel companies and promote communication and promotion so that more and more tourists come to Ky Son.