Developing eco-tourism and community tourism - sustainable poverty reduction solutions in A Luoi

Solving employment and creating income for a large number of workers

For nearly 2 years now, the Huong Rung homestay of Ta Oi ethnic girl Ho Thi Huong (in Dut 1 village, Hong Kim commune, A Luoi district) has attracted a large number of tourists and locals. "During the recent National Day holiday on September 2, the Huong Rung homestay welcomed about 500 guests," said Ms. Huong.

Famtrip delegation with nearly 30 tourism units surveyed community tourism in A Luoi in September 2024. Photo: Pham Thi Tuyet.

As a 9X generation who dares to think and dare to do, after a period of research and study, Ms. Huong decided to start a business by developing community tourism based on traditional culture and indigenous natural resources. In addition to serving tourists to experience cultural activities and explore nature, she built Huong Rung homestay to serve guests.

By attracting a large number of tourists and locals, Ms. Huong's tourist facility has created jobs with stable income for many people in the district. Currently, the facility has 4 permanent employees with a salary of 4-5 million VND/person/month.

In addition, Ms. Huong also creates seasonal jobs for nearly 50 people, especially young men and women and artisans. In addition to farming at home, the additional income from seasonal work at Ms. Huong's facility has helped people improve their lives and escape poverty.

As a mountainous district in the west of Thua Thien Hue province, A Luoi has rich tourism resources with many scenic spots, historical and cultural relics, and diverse craft villages. This is also the land that preserves many customs, folk songs, culinary culture, and traditional festivals imbued with the culture of ethnic minorities.

The development of ecotourism and community tourism in A Luoi has created jobs and income for a large number of workers, thereby promoting sustainable poverty reduction. Photo: Pham Thi Tuyet.

Currently, in A Luoi district, there are 24 tourist attractions and 33 accommodation establishments (9 motels, 24 homestays) with a maximum capacity of over 880 guests/time, 6 community cultural tourism villages and a system of restaurants to meet the needs of tourists... The eco-tourism attractions of Par Le, A Nor, A Lin, community tourism villages in A Roang, Hong Ha, Hong Kim communes... are increasingly receiving the attention of a large number of tourists due to the investment in tourism promotion.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung - Chairman of A Luoi District People's Committee said: The development of community tourism and eco-tourism has contributed to creating jobs and increasing income for a large number of people, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of sustainable poverty reduction in the district.

Raising awareness of the role of tourism development in sustainable poverty reduction

According to Mr. Nguyen Manh Hung, in recent years, tourism development in the area has received special attention from local Party committees and authorities. The District Party Committee and District People's Council have issued a specialized resolution on tourism development for implementation in the area. On that basis, the District People's Committee has concretized it into programs and plans, established the District Tourism Development Steering Committee to coordinate and implement. Thereby, it has contributed to raising awareness of Party committees at all levels, authorities, cadres, Party members and people about the role of tourism development in socio-economic development and sustainable poverty reduction.

Cultural activities at A-Nor Community Ecotourism Village (Hong Kim Commune, A Luoi District) leave many impressions on visitors. Photo: Pham Thi Tuyet.

Tourism infrastructure in the district has been invested in quite synchronously, from the traffic system, electricity grid, telecommunications, to tourism and service facilities. The district focuses on developing suitable types of accommodation services, including encouraging the development of homestays, farmstays and focusing on investing in reception houses, exhibition houses, parking lots, etc. at tourist destinations.

Traditional handicrafts from brocade weaving villages, bamboo and rattan weaving, broom making, etc., agricultural products such as dwarf bananas, A Luoi yellow beef, sturgeon, ginseng, clean vegetables, flowers, etc. are also used to serve the needs of tourists, creating a source of income for the people.

The Chairman of the People's Committee of A Luoi district said that in the coming time, the district will focus on developing infrastructure and technical facilities for tourism, encouraging and creating conditions for individuals, organizations and businesses with capital to invest in building and developing resorts, hotels and motels in the district. Along with that, the district will develop and improve the quality of services at community tourism sites, creating conditions to support businesses to establish travel companies as focal points to link tours and tourist routes...

Traditional cultural identity and rich indigenous natural resources help A Luoi have the conditions to promote the development of community tourism and eco-tourism. Photo: TH

Speaking at a recent working session with the People's Committee of A Luoi district on the development of ecotourism and community tourism in the district, Permanent Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien Hue province Nguyen Thanh Binh suggested that A Luoi district should exploit ecotourism services associated with traditional cultural activities of the locality and exploit tourism resources in a creative, flexible and sustainable manner; creating an open space for visitors to experience community values.

In addition, A Luoi district authorities need to ensure safety and security issues in tourism and coordinate closely with relevant parties to promote and advertise eco-tourism and community tourism products...

Source: https://danviet.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-sinh-thai-du-lich-cong-dong-giai-phap-thoat-ngheo-ben-vung-oa-luoi-20241002154328754.htm