Minister Le Minh Hoan: Integrating agricultural tourism development: "Two is one"

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) Le Minh Hoan shared his opinion at the seminar "Promoting the value of integrated agricultural tourism "Two is one - One of two" jointly organized by the MARD and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the afternoon of June 1.

In recent years, rural tourism has flourished in Vietnam with many forms such as: Ecotourism, agricultural tourism, community tourism, cultural tourism, craft village tourism... These activities, on the one hand, help develop the rural economy, on the other hand, have created cohesion and pride in a beautiful countryside, where each resident becomes a tour guide in his or her own hometown.

Bộ trưởng Lê Minh Hoan: Tích hợp phát triển du lịch nông nghiệp: — Overview of the seminar "Promoting the value of integrated agricultural tourism "Two is one - One of two" jointly organized by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the afternoon of June 1.

Developing agricultural and rural tourism is not only one of the fundamental solutions to promote new rural development but also a strong driving force to strengthen the connection between urban and rural areas, expanding the national tourism map. Although there have been important resolutions and policies, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism need to sit down together to build a new version, based on the existing foundation, to exploit the potential of agricultural and rural tourism more effectively.

OCOP products: Driving force for increased spending from tourists

In the agricultural sector, developing agricultural and rural tourism is considered a fundamental solution, creating a driving force to promote new rural construction. This has been specified in Decision No. 922/QD-TTg of the Prime Minister approving the Rural Tourism Development Program in new rural construction for the period 2021 - 2025. Accordingly, the goal of the seminars is to create a space for exchange, unification of viewpoints and goals of cooperation between the two Ministries in activating agricultural and rural tourism.

At the seminar "Promoting the integrated value of agricultural tourism: Two is one - One of two" held this afternoon, June 1, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan emphasized that it is necessary to expand the national tourism map, not only limited to famous places such as Ha Long, Phu Quoc, but also to reach out to the vast spaces of the countryside, intangible heritage, where farmers are quietly nurturing the vitality of the community. The Minister also expressed his hope that agricultural and rural tourism will help shape and attract the love of future generations for agriculture, the countryside, their roots and intangible values.

Minister Le Minh Hoan shared: "Although there are resolutions and policies issued, the two ministries need to sit together to rewrite the story, build a new version based on the existing foundation of indigenous knowledge, homestay, farmstay... from there build agricultural tourism products and guide to localities and farms." He also emphasized that this will help shape agricultural and rural tourism products in a more specific and effective way.

Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said that agricultural and rural tourism activities in Vietnam are becoming important in expanding tourist routes, connecting urban areas with rural areas and tourist centers with satellite locations. Reports from 63 State Departments of Tourism show that the country currently has 488 recognized tourist areas and destinations, of which about 80% are located in rural areas. Localities are exploiting a variety of tourism resources associated with unique agricultural values, creating many unique tourism products such as traditional culture, local specialties, natural landscapes, festivals and craft villages.

Developing diverse agricultural tourism products

Many localities have developed typical tourism products based on agricultural activities such as fruit trees, tea, coffee, flowers, ornamental plants, livestock, clean agriculture and organic agriculture. Agricultural tourism is also combined with community, cultural, ecological and craft village tourism, especially strongly developing in the Northern mountainous region, the Mekong Delta and the Central Highlands. Some tourist villages have met OCOP and ASEAN standards, and even received the UN Tourism World's Best Tourist Village award.

Destination promotion and branding activities are also heavily invested, such as the Fruit Festival in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta, the Central Highlands Coffee Festival, the Golden Color of Tam Coc in Ninh Binh, and the Terraced Fields - Ripe Rice Season in the Northwest. The Ngoc Linh Ginseng Festival is expected to be held in October 2024.

Infrastructure and facilities for rural tourism are constantly being upgraded, many households have developed high-quality homestay systems, toilet infrastructure, landscapes and village connections have been improved. Many tourism projects have been invested in exploiting the advantages of natural landscapes and cultural values, providing high-quality services such as resorts, entertainment areas and educational farms. These activities are concentrated in areas with beautiful landscapes and near major urban centers such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City.

Despite many remarkable achievements, the development of agricultural and rural tourism still faces many difficulties. According to Mr. Ngo Truong Son, Chief of the Central Office for New Rural Area Coordination, there are currently 584 agricultural and rural tourism models in operation and included in the support plans of localities. In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development has approved a list of 20 pilot models of agricultural and rural tourism to be implemented until 2025. However, the implementation of the program still faces many difficulties such as limited initiative of sectors in some localities, so the issuance of plans is still slow; difficulties in accessing and implementing solutions, especially in resource assessment, building unique tourism products...; lack of planning for agricultural and rural tourism; rural tourism models are still spontaneous and fragmented... leading to difficulties in tourism management and promotion.

In addition, agricultural and rural tourism also has some limitations in service quality, many localities only provide simple day-trip and experience services. Mr. Nguyen Le Phuc also said that there are not many products linking the agricultural - tourism value chain with high added value and characteristics to build a brand. The lack of high-quality resort, health care and experience services is also a problem. In addition, the development of agricultural tourism also has problems related to land use...

Integrated agricultural tourism "Two is one - One of two"

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung stated that agricultural and rural tourism is developing and has good potential if exploited properly. Agricultural tourism products start from cultural depth, based on indigenous culture, village community culture and agricultural and rural achievements. The honest and hard-working farmers, taking advantage of the potential and strengths of their land, have turned that into the strength of tourism. The manager's task is to summarize and highlight the differences and outstanding features of agricultural tourism.

According to Minister Nguyen Van Hung, it is necessary to clarify the role of the subject and the community in tourism. This helps improve the lives of farmers, expand exchanges and create new jobs, promote international exchanges and friendships for rural areas. "We need solutions in the coming time, accordingly, deeply aware of the role of the State in creating, guiding and leading in the field of agriculture and rural areas. In the development process, joint ventures and associations between the Government and enterprises are necessary to create community products. Clearly define the role of the subject and the community, from which there are appropriate recommendations so that agricultural and rural tourism does not develop in a small and fragmented manner", Minister Nguyen Van Hung shared.

At the seminar, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Le Minh Hoan and Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung agreed that there should be closer cooperation between the two ministries to focus on solving problems and promoting sustainable development in the field of agricultural and rural tourism development. This will not only help effectively exploit the potential of agricultural and rural tourism but also contribute to improving the quality of life of rural people, creating unique tourism products, attracting domestic and foreign tourists.

Source: https://danviet.vn/bo-truong-le-minh-hoan-tich-hop-phat-trien-du-lich-nong-nghiep-hai-la-mot-mot-cua-hai-20240601190019186.htm