(PLVN) - Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong said that rural tourism not only promotes socio-economic development and shifts the rural economic structure, but also preserves the values of landscape, ecology, environment, and good traditional cultural identity, contributing to narrowing the gap in income and enjoyment between rural and urban people.
On December 10, at Vinpearl Resort & Golf Nam Hoi An, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism in coordination with the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) and the People's Committee of Quang Nam province organized the First International Conference on Rural Tourism and the Second Annual Meeting of the UN Tourism Best Tourism Village Network (December 9-11, 2024).
This is UN Tourism's first global event on rural tourism, attracting the participation of more than 300 delegates from 50 countries around the world, representing national and local management agencies of UN Tourism member countries and Vietnam, international organizations, the tourism community and the private sector.
 |
Conference scene. (Photo: Cong Huy). |
At the conference, delegates will discuss and orient policies for sustainable rural tourism development, ensuring equitable distribution of tourism benefits, job creation, protection of natural and cultural resources, social inclusion, and empowerment of local communities and vulnerable groups, including women, youth and indigenous people.
Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong expressed his pride that Vietnam is the host country, accompanying UN Tourism in organizing the Conference.
According to Deputy Minister Phong, rural areas possess a variety of unique cultural and natural heritages with many distinctive values that are different from urban areas, such as beautiful natural landscapes, traditional cultures and unique local communities. These are valuable resources that provide unique experiential values, contributing to attracting tourists to rural areas and positively contributing to socio-economic development.
 |
Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong delivered the opening speech at the conference. (Photo: Cong Huy). |
Vietnam is an agricultural country with more than 70% of the population living in rural areas with the advantage of rich natural resources. In recent years, Vietnam has paid great attention to developing unique and attractive types of agricultural and rural tourism products that can attract domestic and foreign tourists, providing diversity in service provision, promoting tour connections, and expanding the space to welcome visitors to the countryside.
“Tourism has made a significant contribution to changing the “face” of many rural areas, turning many rural areas with limited development conditions into “livable countrysides”. Rural tourism not only promotes socio-economic development, shifts the rural economic structure but also preserves the values of landscape, ecology, environment, and good traditional cultural identity, contributing to narrowing the gap in income and enjoyment between rural and urban people”, Deputy Minister Phong emphasized.
 |
International tourists visit and experience Tra Que vegetable village (Hoi An), which has just been recognized as the best tourist village in the world in 2024. (Photo: Cong Huy). |
However, Deputy Minister Phong said that, like many developing countries, Vietnam's rural areas also face many challenges. Despite development, most agricultural and rural tourism models in remote areas of Vietnam are small-scale, unprofessional, facing difficulties in transport infrastructure and other socio-economic conditions, limited investment resources; human resources and market connectivity... This poses requirements in orienting the vision, finding effective solutions in implementing rural tourism development policies in Vietnam to ensure the set goals as well as adapt to global issues.
Speaking at the conference, Secretary of Quang Nam Provincial Party Committee Luong Nguyen Minh Triet also expressed his honor when the locality was chosen to host this important conference.
 |
Quang Nam Provincial Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet speaks at the Conference. (Photo: Cong Huy). |
According to Secretary Triet, agricultural and rural tourism in Quang Nam began to take shape in 2010 and has developed strongly since 2013. Tourist spots are distributed in most localities in the province. Currently, there are 126 spots that have been counted, many of which operate very effectively such as: Thanh Ha Pottery Village, Tra Que Vegetable Village, Bay Mau Coconut Forest Cam Thanh, Kim Bong Carpentry Village (Hoi An), Co Tu Community-Based Tourism Village (Nam Giang)...
“The conference is a valuable opportunity for the province to continue promoting communication and promoting the image of “Quang Nam - Green tourism destination”; promoting close and effective cooperation between Vietnam tourism in general and Quang Nam in particular with UN Tourism and other countries, member organizations, and the Best Tourist Villages of UN Tourism”, Mr. Triet emphasized.
Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Deputy Secretary-General of UN Tourism, said that it was an honor to attend the first United Nations Tourism Conference on Tourism for Rural Development in the enchanting city of Hoi An.
 |
Deputy Minister Ho An Phong and Quang Nam Party Secretary Luong Nguyen Minh Triet presented souvenirs to Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic, Deputy Secretary-General of UN Tourism. (Photo: Cong Huy). |
Expressing her deep gratitude to the Government of Vietnam, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Quang Nam Province for organizing this landmark event in a warm and professional manner, Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic affirmed that this Conference is an important milestone for UN Tourism. The Conference is a strong commitment of UN Tourism, under the leadership of Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili, to prioritizing rural development as a foundation for global recovery and sustainability.
“The Rural Development Tourism Programme and the Best Tourism Villages Initiative are testaments to this commitment. We are here not only to discuss and provide direction for rural tourism development but also to spread the values and potential of tourism as an important factor that can change lives, empower rural communities and promote socio-economic equity,” said Ms. Zoritsa Urosevic.
Source: https://baophapluat.vn/du-lich-nong-thon-thu-hep-khoang-cach-ve-thu-nhap-va-thu-huong-post534330.html
Comment (0)