Currently, although there are no complete statistics on eco-tourism, agricultural tourism and community tourism areas operating in Nghe An, in reality, these types of tourism are "blossoming" from the lowlands to the highlands. Each locality has 1 to 2 tourism models.
Listed below are: Dien Chau district has Hon Nhan Eco-tourism Area (Dien Doai); Yen Thanh district has Ve Vung dam and Gam hill; Thanh Chuong district has tea island, Mua waterfall, Liep waterfall and Lang Xanh Eco-tourism Area; Anh Son district has Vuc But eco-tourism area, Bong village community tourism site; Tuong Duong district has Khe Co, Hoi Nguyen eco-tourism sites and Quang Phuc and Cooc village community tourism sites; Que Phong district has Bay Tang waterfall complex eco-tourism site, Sao Va waterfall and Co Muong, Muong Dan, Nhat Minh Farmstay community tourism sites; Nghia Dan district has Hon Mat eco-tourism area, Truong Gia Farm, etc.
In terms of limitations, the common characteristics of community-ecological tourism sites and areas in the province are small scale, similar planning, not creating a difference to attract tourists, but on the contrary, easily causing monotony, making it difficult to attract visitors to return. The models are lacking in-depth and classy investment; in other words, they are not implemented according to the basic principles of the type. At tourist sites in streams, streams and waterfalls, they are often very simple, the food and beverage service points, changing clothes are just temporary tents and shacks. Some community tourism sites have a lack of investment in accommodation, the system of furniture and equipment in the rooms is simple. The service style lacks professionalism. Therefore, it is not possible to satisfy tourists, especially international visitors and visitors from big cities.
Mr. Luong Duy Doanh - Communications Director of UNESCO Hanoi Travel Club, who has surveyed Nghe An tourism many times, commented: In reality, tourism models such as Cau Cau dam, HDT farm area (Thanh Chuong), Eo Gio, Thung Pheo (Nam Dan), Dai Hue Eco-tourism area (Nghi Loc); Flower gardens in Nghia Dan, Thai Hoa town (Hon Mat, Truong Gia Farm, Phu Quy flower valley) are very "patchy", attracting only a very small number of local visitors, not attracting visitors from other provinces and international. This situation stems from the scale and strategy of investors.
Eco-tourism and agriculture are often developed based on available resources and human hands will restore and add. However, to do eco-tourism and agriculture is not easy, because the investment capital is large, the capital recovery is slow. Meanwhile, investors in eco-tourism and agriculture in Nghe An have limited investment resources, heavy on the mindset of "sowing today, reaping tomorrow".
Tourism expert Nguyen Van My from Ho Chi Minh City commented: “I have participated in a survey of community tourism areas and sites in Nghe An and found that they are quite similar in terms of layout, organization and operation. Visitors only need to experience one site to understand the rest. This approach invisibly drags each other down, reducing the number of visitors coming to experience because of the lack of attractiveness… Eco-tourism - farming is much worse, making it difficult for visitors to return.”
The emergence of a series of small-scale, fragmented eco-tourism and community tourism models in the province is not something to be happy about but is actually worrying. There is currently a situation of "hot" development without planning, everyone doing their own thing and then "sinking together". Community tourism, eco-tourism and agriculture in Nghe An need to change from the roots. Ms. Vi Thi Tham - Director of Tay Nghe Tourist shared: The reason why community tourism spots in Nghe An are similar is because all of these spots learn from the same model in Lac village, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province. However, community tourism spots in Nghe An cannot be as successful as the original.
Community tourism in Lac village, Mai Chau district, Hoa Binh province and Pu Luong (Thanh Hoa) is successful because the traditional cultural values in the two above mentioned localities are very dense and well preserved. The natural scenery is very beautiful and majestic. The traffic to the tourist destination is convenient... As a tourism subject, Lac village is a residential community with approximately 600 households. Here, every household does tourism and has good service. With Pu Luong, the tourism subject is businesses - investors with potential and experience.
Regarding community tourism destinations in Nghe An, it must be said that the infrastructure conditions are generally worse. The subjects are the people who do tourism spontaneously (except for the Nua - Con Cuong model which has been supported and trained quite systematically by JICA, but the scale is small, and has not really highlighted the unique characteristics and cultural identity). Human resources for community tourism in Nghe An are very lacking, limited in skills due to lack of training. Although the cuisine is rich, it lacks special dishes, unable to make tourists remember forever after just one bite. Souvenirs and traditional handicrafts are quite simple and not sophisticated.
It can be seen that, although learning how to do tourism in other provinces, Nghe An community tourism cannot copy the Lac village model to apply as it has been for a long time. We need to be creative on our own unique values. The important thing is to understand the psychology of tourists and what they want when they come to community tourism to serve... Community tourism also needs large investors, otherwise it will develop very slowly, making it difficult to promote the potential to build a brand of competitive products.
As someone who is concerned about community tourism, Mr. Le Thanh Ha - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Quy Chau district said: The Provincial People's Committee has approved the Strategy for developing Nghe An tourism to 2030, with a vision to 2035. The planning is available, the problem is that it needs to be implemented consistently. Each locality needs to base on the planning to choose a suitable tourism development model to avoid spreading, duplication, and lack of highlights. If Con Cuong district has taken the culture of the Thai people as a cultural highlight and tourism product, then Tuong Duong district can choose the culture of the O Du people; Ky Son district chooses the culture of the Mong people as a highlight; Que Phong district can choose the ancient culture of the Thai people, with in-depth and unique experiences; Quy Chau district relies on Thai culture but in the direction of experiencing craft villages (brocade weaving); making handicrafts such as simulating water wheels, learning folk songs, folk dances, and folk games.
Mr. Vi Van Quy - Vice Chairman of Con Cuong District People's Committee expressed: To develop eco-tourism - agriculture, community tourism, it is necessary to have potential investors. Currently, local tourism businesses are enthusiastic and passionate but their investment capacity is weak. Finding investors to build destinations is currently very difficult. Hopefully, all levels and sectors from the Central and local levels will join hands to support the work of promoting, attracting and calling for investors.
