Nghe An: Building 3 community tourism villages into OCOP products

According to the proposal of the Program Executive Board, 3 villages will be selected to develop OCOP products, including: Hoa Tien and Chau Tien villages (Quy Chau), Xieng and Mon Son villages (Con Cuong) and Thai Minh villages, Tien Ky commune (Tan Ky) so that these 3 villages meet the criteria of typical rural products.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi - Deputy Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism said: According to a survey by the functional sector, community tourism in Nghe An is quite developed in the Western districts. Some well-known villages such as Nua village, Khe Ran village, Xieng village (Con Cuong), Hoa Tien (Quy Chau) ... attract quite a lot of tourists.

In the province, there are currently 9 villages operating community tourism combining cultural values, including: Xieng village, Mon Son commune, Khe Ran Bong Khe, Yen Thanh village, Luc Da commune, Nua village, Yen Khe commune (Con Cuong), Na Xai village, Hua Muong village, Hanh Dich commune, Huu Van village, Chau Kim commune (Que Phong), Thai Minh (Tien Ky, Tan Ky)... These 9 villages are qualified to successfully build community tourism villages.

Community tourism in Khe Ran village - Bong Khe - Con Cuong. Photo: B. H

"The reason for choosing the above 3 villages is because those 3 villages have famous weaving villages, the conditions there are still difficult, the 3 villages also represent 3 districts to spread, connect this model, develop more tourism products in the above localities. After success, we will continue to invest in other villages and hamlets" - Mr. Nguyen Manh Loi added.

For a long time, most villages and localities have been spending their own money on propaganda, promotion, and investment, without planning or support from the state, while this is a potential “treasure” of Nghe An’s tourism industry. Tourism activities have not shown a systematic approach, have not been trained in expertise and professionalism, etc., limiting their attractiveness and not attracting tourists to stay longer.

The success of spontaneous movements in localities shows the tourism trend as well as the huge demand from reality, at the same time the need for support from policies and consistent leadership from the province, departments to the grassroots.

Faced with that situation, the relevant authorities have proposed policies to support investment in community tourism villages.

Thai Minh brocade weaving village - Tien Ky commune (Tan Ky). Photo: Xuan Hoang

For mountainous areas, funding will be provided to build toilets for households, with a cost not exceeding 60 million VND/toilet; this support will solve the problem of lack of toilets that ensure quality service for tourists at community tourism sites, ensuring a clean and green environment in mountainous villages. Support for purchasing initial equipment (blankets, sheets, pillows, mattresses, water filters, etc.), the proposed support level is 50% of the cost of purchasing necessary equipment, the reason for support is according to the Law on Tourism: Housing with rooms for rent must be arranged with equipment and amenities for tourists to rent and stay, guests living with the host family".

For the remaining areas: Support 50% of the cost, up to 100 million VND, to renovate houses and purchase necessary equipment. The beneficiaries of the policy are households in rural areas, with the need and conditions to do business in community tourism, selected by the Department of Tourism and local authorities. This policy will only support the first year of implementation.

Regarding support for villages and hamlets: Planned support for purchasing equipment and costumes for performing arts teams, support level is 50% of the purchase cost.

Equip the performing arts teams of the villages and hamlets, one team per village and hamlet; each team has from 10-20 people (depending on the selected scale) to help the performing arts teams fully equip musical instruments and traditional costumes suitable for the local characteristics to attract tourists to experience the unique culture, attracting tourists to return.

Support the installation of signs and directions in DLCĐ villages and hamlets, with the aim of installing signs and directions on both sides of the road to help tourists easily find their way to tourist attractions for sightseeing and exploration.

In addition, signs about the rules and regulations when entering the village or what tourists should or should not do... will help tourists easily recognize and follow during their visit, because the DLCĐ villages are mainly inhabited by ethnic minorities, so they have their own customs and lifestyle.

Chart of revenue and number of visitors to community tourism from 2016-2019. Graphics: Lam Tung

In addition, the policy also supports the District People's Committee in training tourism skills for people in DLCĐ villages and hamlets to organize short-term training courses for people in DLCĐ villages, first of all those who directly participate in providing DLCĐ services in those villages so that they can have basic skills such as communication skills, guest reception skills, and food preparation;

Support English language training for people in DLCĐ villages and hamlets; Support funding for propaganda and promotion of DLCĐ for the People's Committees of districts with DLCĐ points so that the districts can proactively plan to promote local tourism products in general and DLCĐ products in particular every year.

The total budget for the 5-year period from 2021-2025 is expected to be 10,300 million VND.