A 1.5km long rest stop and walking and photography path will be built in the Sang Le forest in Nghe An.

On the morning of August 29, in Con Cuong district, Nghe An Tourism Association coordinated with related units to organize a conference to connect and promote community tourism in Con Cuong - Tuong Duong district.

Attending the conference were representatives of the Program for Supporting Small Projects in Vietnam, the Global Environment Facility; Nghe An Department of Tourism; Nghe An Tourism Association; departments, branches and sectors in the province; Con Cuong district, Tuong Duong district; Pu Mat National Park; Mon Son commune (Con Cuong), Tam Dinh (Tuong Duong); tourism businesses in the province.

Launching the Executive Board of the Ecotourism Development Project for Ethnic Minorities in the Buffer Zone of Pu Mat National Park. Photo: Thanh Cuong

At the Conference, the Project Management Board "Developing ecotourism for ethnic minorities in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity in the Western Nghe An Biosphere Reserve, linking protection and sustainable forest development" was launched and announced its activities.

Mr. Duong Hoang Vu - Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism, Vice Chairman of Nghe An Tourism Association is the head of the executive board.

Folk dance performance of Thai ethnic group in Con Cuong. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The project to develop ecotourism for ethnic minorities in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park, implemented by Nghe An Tourism Association, is funded by the Small Projects Funding Program in Vietnam (Global Environment Facility) with a budget of 1.1 billion VND / 3.3 billion VND.

The project will be implemented in two communes, Mon Son (Con Cuong) and Tam Dinh (Tuong Duong) for two years (June 2019 - June 2021).

The Department of Tourism donated bicycles to poor students in Thach Ngan commune, Con Cuong district. Photo: Thanh Cuong

The project includes 11 activities, implementing the following contents: communication to improve knowledge of sustainable forest protection and development associated with ecotourism development for ethnic minorities in the buffer zone of Pu Mat National Park and successfully building 3 ecotourism development models in Sang Le Forest, Quang Thinh Village and Khe Co Village, Quang Phuc Village (Tam Dinh Commune), Xieng Village (Mon Son Commune) for popularization and replication.

Tuong Duong casuarina forest in Tam Dinh commune, Tuong Duong district is an attractive destination for tourists. Photo: Document.

Highlighting the model at Sang Le Forest, the Project will build a rest stop for tourists to enjoy the scenery; build a 1.5 km sightseeing and photography route for tourists to walk and patrol to protect the forest in Sang Le Forest.

In Xieng village model, the Project organizes training for local people in community tourism and tourist services; piloting mulberry planting and silkworm raising; conserving and developing natural dye plants in the forest for brocade weaving activities; supporting the improvement of display houses and sales of brocade products.

Traditional weaving craft of Ban Xieng. Photo by Quang Dung

The project will also establish a revolving loan fund for community ecotourism development funded by the Vietnam Small Projects Funding Program and the Global Environment Facility; connecting tourism in the three above-mentioned models.

Leaders of Pu Mat National Park speak at the conference. Photo: Thanh Cuong

At the conference, representatives of Nghe An tourism industry, tourism businesses and Con Cuong and Tuong Duong districts gave opinions and proposed solutions to connect and promote tourism in these two localities.

Solutions include: Building a management mechanism, organizing planning, raising awareness and capacity of the community; developing human resources; investing in infrastructure; attracting investors; promoting and increasing connectivity between the two districts to create a combined strength with the formation of suitable tours and routes.