Episode 21: “Ecotourism associated with preserving traditional cultural identity…”

(Baonghean) -Pu Mat National Park is an attractive eco-tourism and adventure tourism destination with majestic and pristine natural beauty. To effectively exploit the tourism potential in the "green paradise" Pu Mat, attention from many sides is needed. Nghe An Newspaper interviewed Mr. Cao Dang Vinh - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Nghe An about this issue.

PV:Can you tell us about the connection between the provincial tourism industry and Pu Mat National Park to exploit the great potential of ecotourism?

Mr. Cao Dang Vinh: In the Action Program to implement Resolution 12 NQ/TU dated July 30, 2002 of the Standing Committee of Nghe An Provincial Party Committee on developing Nghe An tourism in the period 2002-2010, it was determined: "The important task in developing Nghe An tourism is developing eco-tourism. Nghe An has great potential for eco-tourism. In the current conditions, to quickly increase the number of international tourists, we must consider developing cultural-historical tourism and eco-tourism as a breakthrough".

In addition to the biodiversity values, Pu Mat National Park also has many beautiful landscapes, great potential and conditions for developing attractive eco-tourism and resort products. Investing in the exploitation and development of eco-tourism in Pu Mat National Park and some points in the surrounding area will create a new and unique image of Nghe An tourism domestically and internationally.

In recent years, the provincial tourism industry has taken many positive steps to exploit the ecotourism potential of Pu Mat National Park such as:

- Coordinate with the National Park Management Board to survey the tourism potential and tourist routes of the Park to serve the development project of tourism in Western Nghe An for the period 2007 - 2010. The project was approved by the People's Committee of Nghe An province in Decision No. 94/2007/QD-UBND dated August 8, 2007;

- Coordinated the development of the Master Plan for Nghe An tourism development to 2020, which was approved by the Provincial People's Committee in Decision No. 2737/QD-UBND.VX dated June 12, 2009;

- Coordinate the development of a project to promote Thai cultural identity in developing community-based tourism in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve.

These are important orientations for tourism development in western Nghe An in general and Pu Mat National Park in particular.

According to experts, Pu Mat National Park can develop many types of ecotourism: Trekking (walking in the National Park) according to tours on Khe Khang and Khe Kem routes to learn about nature and the lifestyle of local people; Visiting caves and climbing mountains; Visiting scientific research on flora and fauna; Cruising on Giang River... In addition, the industry has also built a number of attractive tourist routes: such as Pha Lai - Khe Khang route; Pha Lai - Giang River - Khe Khang route...

PV:To effectively exploit the ecotourism potential of Pu Mat National Park, what solutions do you think need to be implemented?

Mr. Cao Dang Vinh:To exploit effectively and ensure sustainability, it is necessary to implement some strategic solutions in the immediate future:

- Disseminate and educate local people about knowledge, policies and laws of the state in protecting forest resources, conserving nature and developing sustainable tourism.

- Promote propaganda and promotion of the potential, special products, routes, and eco-tours of Pu Mat National Park domestically and internationally. Invite domestic and regional companies and international travel agencies to survey and open tours in the National Park, helping visitors better understand the National Park.

Brocade weaving - traditional craft of people in the Mon Son-Con Cuong buffer zone.

- Invest in building walking routes to tourist attractions in Pu Mat National Park, build a traffic system from National Highway 7 to villages around the buffer zone to serve visitors to craft villages, historical and cultural relics around the area: Tra Lan citadel relic, Ma Nhai stele, Oc Cave, historical relic of Con Chua Banyan Tree (Mon Son) and brocade weaving villages of the Thai ethnic group...

- There are policies to encourage, provide incentives and call on organizations and individuals to invest in building tourism services, types and products in Pu Mat National Park, on the basis of developing tourism associated with protecting the sustainable ecological environment, maintaining political security and social order and safety in the national border area.

- Promote the development of community tourism to contribute to preserving and promoting the cultural identity values ​​of ethnic groups living in the buffer zone and implementing poverty reduction policies, while preserving the natural resource values ​​of Pu Mat National Park.

PV:Sir, what plans does Nghe An have to preserve and exploit the cultural identity of the Dan Lai people (core zone) and ethnic groups around the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park for tourism?

Mr. Cao Dang Vinh:Pu Mat National Park is also home to ethnic minorities such as Thai, Mong, Dan Lai... Tourists can visit villages where ethnic minorities live to learn about their ethnic cultural identity; Visit traditional craft villages that produce shirts, skirts, scarves, brocade, wallets, handbags, souvenirs... Cross rapids to the upper reaches of Giang River to visit the ancient village of Dan Lai...

Thus, Nghe An is actively promoting the work of preserving, exploiting and promoting the traditional tangible and intangible cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities in the core and buffer zones to create momentum for tourism development. Promote the movement of building a civilized lifestyle, cultural families, gradually improving material and spiritual life, raising people's knowledge, eliminating backward customs and social evils from the community. Strengthen the clean and strong grassroots political system, focus on preserving and promoting national cultural identity in association with building solidarity among ethnic groups, fighting against trends of exploiting culture to divide and destroy the great unity bloc. Strengthen education on the sense of responsibility of people in the region for preserving natural values, ethnic culture, natural environment, society and national security and defense.

Cruise on the Giang River.

PV:How will the connection between tours in the province and Pu Mat National Park be implemented, sir?

Mr. Cao Dang Vinh:In the immediate future, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will promote Nghe An tourism in all forms and means. At the same time, link to develop a number of tourism products and tours, tourist routes: Organize tours to visit famous landscapes and landscapes in the region; Organize specialized scientific research tours such as investigating rare animals and plants in the National Park; Organize eco-tourism routes in Pu Mat National Park, Pu Hoat and Pu Huong nature reserves; Link to develop eco-tourism with resort tourism at Nuoc Moc stream (Con Cuong), Ba Canh waterfall, Xop Luot, Muong Long (Ky Son), Dua waterfall (Quy Chau), Kem waterfall (Con Cuong), Xao Va waterfall, Bay Tang waterfall (Que Phong) ...; Organize tourist routes associated with tourism of the province with the National Park and Laos, Thailand through Nam Mac international border gate and Thanh Thuy border gate; Connecting the Cua Lo - Vinh - Nam Dan tourist route, Kim Lien - Uncle Ho's hometown - Con Cuong - Tuong Duong - Ky Son - Plain of Jars - Luang Prabang (Lao PDR); Organizing community tourism programs in Yen Khe - Luc Da - Mon Son - Chi Khe of Con Cuong district./.

PV:Thank you!

Van Truong -perform