Need to encourage the development of souvenir products

(Baonghean) - Souvenir products are one of the factors that contribute to increasing the attractiveness of tourist destinations, encouraging spending and effectively promoting tourism images. However, in Nghe An, the tourism gift market is lacking attractive souvenir products; businesses have not exploited them effectively, causing a waste of a significant source of revenue for the tourism industry...

Nghe An has been known to domestic and foreign tourists for its beautiful landscapes, spiritual tourism, resorts, with many beautiful beaches that attract tourists such as Cua Lo, Cua Hoi; Nghi Thiet, Bai Lu (Nghi Loc), Quynh Bang (Quynh Luu), Quynh Phuong (Hoang Mai Town), Dien Thanh (Dien Chau). 120 km southwest of Vinh City is Pu Mat National Park, Pu Hoat Primeval Forest Reserve located on the eastern slope of the Truong Son range, along the Vietnam - Laos border. Or Hang Bua located in the limestone mountain range in Quy Chau district... In addition, Nghe An also has over 1,000 historical and cultural relics, of which nearly 200 are ranked. Especially the Kim Lien - Nam Dan relic site, the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh.

Souvenirs are sold at Kim Lien Relic Site.

Nghe An is not only rich in tangible cultural products but also very rich in intangible culture, which attracts tourists - those are the rich folk culture and strong national identity such as: Traditional cultural festivals, folk songs, Vi Dam, Hat Phuong Vai, Ho, Ve... However, when visiting tourist areas, in addition to sightseeing and relaxation, tourists want to find a truly meaningful souvenir, which is not easy.

Walking through a series of tourist attractions in the province, it is easy to see the monotony and lack of souvenirs bearing the cultural characteristics of the regions in particular and Nghe An in general. Visiting the Kim Lien - Nam Dan relic site, in addition to cu do cakes, on the shelves of souvenir stalls are mainly paintings and statues of Uncle Ho. At the Cua Lo beach tourist area, year after year there are still monotonous items made from snail shells, Chinese souvenirs are present in most of the stores. If in the past, Chinese goods were simply keychains, wooden and porcelain statues... now, China also produces lacquerware and handicrafts imitating Vietnamese products.

In Cua Lo Town, souvenirs have not attracted tourists.

At temples and pagodas during festivals, souvenir stalls compete to sell all kinds of jewelry, clothes, silk scarves... but mainly from China. Looking at some neighboring provinces with attractive souvenir markets, tourists are attracted by souvenir stalls with many unique products, such as Dong Ho paintings (Bac Ninh), Non Nuoc stone, sand paintings (Da Nang). Coming to the Ba Chua Kho Festival, tourists are impressed by souvenir stalls selling all kinds of jewelry, clothes, silk scarves to ceramics, lacquer paintings... In fact, the attraction of souvenir products to tourists is very large. However, Nghe An's souvenir market has not developed commensurate with its inherent tourism potential. And to create products with unique marks and brands that not only stimulate consumption and increase trade, but also promote and deepen the image of Nghe An tourism in the hearts of tourists, is a difficult problem.

According to Mr. Le Quang Hung - Deputy Director of Viet Vision Travel Company: Currently, Nghe An has no locality that has built a typical tourist gift product. Some gift products such as seafood and agricultural products, tourists can buy at markets or order in advance from agents. The lack of souvenir products is partly due to the fact that artisans and owners of production facilities have not researched and invested in converting production and business, developing traditional craft products with souvenir products for tourism, in order to attract tourists when coming to Nghe An. Partly because the tourist destinations themselves have not focused on building souvenir stalls. When someone gives a souvenir to friends and relatives, it is an indirect form of introducing the image and culture of the people and the land they have visited.

In order to strengthen the propaganda and promotion of relics, landscapes and culture of Nghe An people through gift products and souvenirs made from traditional craft villages to tourists when coming to Nghe An. The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Provincial Cooperative Union, the Department of Information and Communications, and the Provincial Culture and Arts Association organized the contest "Creating Nghe An's typical souvenir products". The contest was launched from December 2012 to the end of September 2013. However, by the time the deadline for receiving products expired, the Organizing Committee had only received entries from 1 enterprise and 1 individual. They were Duc Phong Company Limited (with 24 rattan and bamboo products) and Mr. Pham Cong Ly, residing in Hung Nguyen Town, sent 6 products including paintings, sculptures.

The problem facing the tourism industry today is how to create products with unique characteristics and brands to not only stimulate consumption and increase trade, but also promote and deepen the image of local tourism in the hearts of tourists.

According to statistics from the Provincial Cooperative Union, up to now, the whole province has recognized 277 villages with district-level crafts and 119 provincial-level crafts. There are many traditional craft villages such as the bamboo and rattan weaving village (Nghi Thai), the Do paper craft village in Nghi Phong (Nghi Loc), the Quynh Hung and Quynh Nghia carpentry villages (Quynh Luu), the Ba Ba blacksmith village (Thanh Luong-Thanh Chuong), the brocade weaving craft of ethnic minorities... Traditional craft villages have created many unique handicraft products but still do not have a place at tourist destinations. On the other hand, artisans in craft villages have not researched and invested in the production and trading of souvenir products for tourism... In order for these products to become souvenirs, there needs to be reasonable research and investment. First of all, it is necessary to strengthen education, raise awareness in preserving and promoting the value of the craft, maintaining and teaching the craft.

In addition, it is necessary to plan, support capital, production premises and have guidance and advice on product designs, styles and brands to suit tourists' tastes; encourage the production of products using natural materials that are environmentally friendly, or using locally available materials. Between production facilities and travel agencies, it is necessary to strengthen the connection in the introduction and sale of souvenir products. To ensure long-term output for products, it is also necessary to have a strategy to widely promote to tourists, build stores to display and introduce products, support the registration of trademarks and industrial designs for typical branded products, etc.

A souvenir product, though small, has great value in promoting tourism. Developing souvenir products is to contribute to promoting culture, solving employment in craft villages, preserving traditional crafts and increasing income for people in rural areas. Thus, there should be policies to support and encourage the production of souvenirs and tourist gifts typical of Nghe An.

Ngoc Anh