Cao Bang: Developing OCOP products associated with rural tourism

Developing OCOP products in conjunction with agricultural tourism is considered a promising direction that contributes to increasing the value of agricultural products in the border province of Cao Bang.

Establishing brand identity through OCOP products.

Cao Bang province's OCOP products include key product groups such as food, beverages, handicrafts, community tourism services, ecotourism, and tourist destinations. Some OCOP products are already local specialties and have been well-known for a long time, such as Phia Den vermicelli; Trung Khanh chestnuts; Huong Bao Lac sticky rice; smoked meat and sausages; black jelly; and Na Giang sticky rice... These OCOP products have contributed to promoting the potential and strengths of Cao Bang province's culture, cuisine, tourism services, land, and people to a wide range of domestic and international tourists, thereby boosting tourism and the development of the local agricultural economy .

Production of Khau Sli Na Giang in Ngoc Dao commune, Ha Quang district.

When talking about traditional handicrafts with a long history, Cao Bang province is famous for its knives from Phuc Sen village, Quang Hoa district. Among them, the Phuc Sen knives, certified as a 3-star OCOP product by Minh Tuan Cooperative, have become a renowned product, affirming the brand of the traditional blacksmithing craft in the area. Mr. Nong Minh Tuan, Director of Minh Tuan Cooperative, shared: "Since being certified as a typical rural industrial product, and then as an OCOP product of the province, the cooperative's knives have become more widely known throughout the country. The cooperative has intensified efforts to introduce and sell its products at many tourist destinations in the province and at major tourism and trade fairs nationwide. Many tourist groups visiting Cao Bang also seek out the cooperative to choose high-quality forged products."

Knife production at Minh Tuan Cooperative, Phuc Sen commune, Quang Hoa district.

OCOP products are linked to tourism development.

In the Kolia Eco-tourism Area, located in Thanh Cong commune, Nguyen Binh district, the cool and fresh climate has attracted many tourists from all over in recent years. Visitors to the Kolia Eco-tourism Area can participate in tea plantation tours, pick tea leaves themselves, and receive guidance on tea processing and packaging, just like the locals. Visiting the Kolia Eco-tourism Area and enjoying a cup of A1 Black Tea and A1 Green Tea, two 3-star OCOP products of Kolia Cao Bang Co., Ltd., is a delightful experience for tourists. These are also two of the many famous tea varieties produced by Kolia Company.

Join the locals in picking tea leaves at the Kolia community tourism area.

To promote and sell OCOP products, Cao Bang province has implemented many support policies, including introducing them on e-commerce platforms, establishing showrooms and sales points for OCOP products, and bringing OCOP products into supermarkets. To effectively implement the OCOP program in conjunction with rural tourism services, the province focuses on promoting awareness among the public and socio-economic organizations about the economic and humanistic value of participating in the OCOP program. This includes introducing tours, tourist routes, attractions, and products related to ecotourism and community tourism; organizing cultural and culinary activities; promoting tourism; and showcasing agricultural products and OCOP products at fairs and cultural-tourism weeks both within and outside the province.

From the beginning of 2024, Cao Bang province welcomed over 1.6 million visitors, including an estimated 36,000 international tourists, a 63% increase compared to the same period. Total tourism revenue is estimated at 1,276 billion VND; the room occupancy rate is estimated at 52.5%.

Phia Đén vermicelli, one of the famous OCOP products, is a popular choice for tourists visiting Cao Bằng.

To help people understand the value of OCOP products.

Authorities at all levels have creatively applied policy mechanisms and mobilized appropriate resources to encourage organizations and individuals to create momentum for the increasingly strong development of the OCOP movement. Priority is given to investing in funding to support the development of OCOP products associated with the development of production models along the value chain. According to Mr. Nong Thanh Man, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Cao Bang province: Integrating OCOP product development with agricultural and rural tourism enriches tourism development, attracts tourists, contributes to consumption, and enhances the value of OCOP products. Therefore, investing in and developing OCOP products will be easier, helping to elevate the product's status and promote the image of local tourism. For sustainable development, Cao Bang province has determined that it needs to strengthen information and communication about the purpose and practical significance of the OCOP program. In addition, there needs to be more decisive involvement from Party committees and authorities at all levels. Timely and effective implementation of mechanisms and policies to encourage businesses, cooperatives, and individuals to change their mindset and boldly invest in creating OCOP products is crucial. The development of community tourism routes connecting with OCOP product production areas should be promoted. The main goal is to increase people's income and promote sustainable tourism and rural agricultural development. Source: https://daidoanket.vn/cao-bang-phat-trien-san-pham-ocop-gan-voi-du-lich-nong-thon-10294662.html