What are tasks and solutions for developing community-based tourism in Vietnam?

What are tasks and solutions for developing community-based tourism in Vietnam?​ (Image from the internet)

On October 30, 2024, the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vietnam issued Decision 3222/QD-BVHTTDL approving the Scheme for Developing Community-Based Tourism in Vietnam.

What are tasks and solutions for developing community-based tourism in Vietnam?​

(1) Tasks

- Evaluate the current status of community-based tourism development in Vietnam to identify issues that need addressing in the restoration, conservation, and promotion of traditional cultural values; training and educating staff and workers; survey, evaluate, and provide support plans for physical facilities and equipment to enable ethnic communities to implement activities, prioritizing ethnic minorities and mountainous areas; conduct research and evaluations to establish a legal basis, policy mechanisms to attract investment, encourage the development of community-based tourism, and management mechanisms in coordination among stakeholders involved in community-based tourism activities.

- Assess at least 30 community-based tourism sites where customer satisfaction is rated at a fairly satisfied level or higher, in accordance with the National Standard on Community-based Tourism - Service Quality Requirements (TCVN 13259:2020), with at least 10 sites rated as good.

- Assess at least 30 community-based tourism sites where customer satisfaction is rated at a fairly satisfied level or higher, according to the ASEAN Community-based Tourism Standard, with at least 10 sites rated as good.

(2) Implementation Solutions

(2.1) Solutions to enhance integration of investment policies and support for community-based tourism development, effectively using various funding sources

- Research and effectively use budget resources for investment in the restoration and conservation of traditional culture linked with developing community-based tourism, as specified in Project 6: "Conservation and Promotion of the Fine Traditional Cultural Values of Ethnic Minorities linked with Tourism Development," under the National Target Program for Socio-Economic Development of Ethnic Minority and Mountainous Regions for the period 2021-2030, Phase I: from 2021 to 2025, in Decision No. 1719/QD-TTg dated October 14, 2021, by the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

- Research and effectively use budget resources to renovate, upgrade, and complete rural infrastructure, especially transportation systems, electricity, clean water systems, healthcare, sanitation facilities, parking lots, navigation systems, digital infrastructure, and telecommunications connectivity, waste collection and treatment facilities, wastewater… to support development at community-based tourism sites in building new rural areas.

- Research and effectively use budget resources to develop products associated with community values, with local origins and regional specialties based on the strengths and advantages of natural conditions, raw materials, indigenous knowledge, and culture to develop community-based tourism products and services under the One Commune One Product (OCOP) Program.

- Develop, supplement, and complete mechanisms and policies for developing community-based tourism in the new period to improve conditions for marketing tourism products and services, enhance the effectiveness of intellectual property rights enforcement, and promote fair competition in the market.

- Review, adjust, and supplement effective coordination mechanisms among various ministries, central authorities, and localities to ensure coherence, avoid overlap and duplication, to promote community-based tourism development; strengthen decentralization within the administrative system, while enhancing monitoring, supervision, inspections, and monitoring compliance with public duties.

- Research some other policies related to supporting and encouraging investment in developing community-based tourism.

(2.2) Solutions on infrastructure and technical facilities

- Develop long-term plans and action programs for upgrading community-based tourism sites following sustainable directions, preserving landscapes and environment; invest in infrastructure for selected areas; propose and develop specific mechanisms and policies to encourage community participation in developing technical facilities for community-based tourism services.

- Support state budget investments for developing infrastructure; upgrade infrastructure for potentially tourist-attractive community-based tourism sites; invest in technical facilities, interlinked tourism infrastructure connections to selected community-based tourism sites.

- Mobilize comprehensive resources to support initial seed funding for households and community members to create infrastructure for community-based tourism development.

- Appropriately exploit natural resources, organize tourist participation in beneficial health activities, encourage the use of locally available natural materials such as herb baths/foot baths, spa, mineral baths, local products… sports activities based on nature such as trekking, canoeing, paddle boating, fishing, cycling, diving… associated with community-based tourism development.

(2.3) Solutions on market, promotion, and linkage development of products

- Promote awareness and understanding on community-based tourism development;

- Focus on developing unique, appealing community-based tourism products that meet the needs and tastes of tourists from target markets;

- Guide and support communities to proactively build tourism promotion databases, effectively introduce and promote community-based tourism products to domestic and international markets;

- Prioritize promotion, market development, and attract international tourists from intra-ASEAN regions, Northeast Asia, Western Europe, Australia, and domestic tourists from major cities and tourism hubs to experience and use community-based tourism products;

- Establish a benefit-sharing model between communities, businesses, relevant entities, promotion organizations, and attract investment resources for the development of community-based tourism, gradually developing local and national community-based tourism brands for Vietnam.

(2.4) Solutions on planning and investment incentives

- Organize the planning of spaces for community-based tourism sites.

Support the conservation, restoration of traditional cultures, especially culture of indigenous ethnic groups; develop craft villages associated with the traditional cultural values of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas to develop community-based tourism; research and select unique ethnic minority cultural values of each locality to develop tourism products associated with building and conserving the cultural environment of destinations.

Support the development of infrastructure and tourism technical facilities at community-based tourism sites; upgrade and complete road systems, lighting systems, parking lots, signage, information technology, wifi, reception points, community cultural activity points, display and selling points for local specialty products, religious and belief bases, service points, sightseeing, public entertainment, recreation… to serve the development of community-based tourism.

- Support connectivity and attract tourists, promoting the application of digital transformation, smart technology, and integration of e-commerce transactions in developing community-based tourism products; organize programs, seminars, discussions, forums, fairs, and exhibitions to connect stakeholders, businesses, investors, and market customers to community-based tourism sites.

More details can be found in Decision 3222/QD-BVHTTDL dated October 30, 2024.

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