Rural tourism and craft village tourism are becoming attractive options for tourists who want to learn about the culture, people and life in the countryside. Realizing the potential, Phu Yen has implemented numerous solutions to promote the development of craft village tourism and rural tourism. The province also focuses on building OCOP products into typical rural tourism products, meeting the diverse needs of tourists.

Preserving the brocade weaving craft village of Xi Thoai village (Xuan Lanh commune, Dong Xuan district) combined with tourism development

Developing craft villages linked to tourism

Phu Yen has more than 20 craft villages recognized under Decree 52/2018/ND-CP of the Government on developing rural industries. Localities focus on preserving and developing craft villages, gradually restoring and building brands to become attractive tourist destinations. Including famous traditional craft villages such as: Ganh Do fish sauce (Song Cau town); Hoa Da rice paper, Phu Tan sedge mat weaving (Tuy An district); Vinh Ba knitting weaving (Tay Hoa district); Xi Thoai brocade weaving (Dong Xuan district) ...

Ms Nguyen Thi Ri (Xuan Lanh commune, Dong Xuan district) informed that she has been involved in brocade weaving for more than 10 years. With the desire that the national identity will not be lost in modern society, she tries to research and learn to weave beautiful, new products from brocade materials. After making new products, tourists are very excited; thereby helping numerous women have more income.

Recognizing the needs of tourists to experience rural life, some businesses in Phu Yen have proactively linked with people to build numerous tourism products associated with agriculture, rural areas and craft villages. Some traditional craft villages have initially brought about certain effectiveness and success in production and business activities associated with community tourism development.

Stelia Beach Resort (Tuy Hoa city) in collaboration with An Cu Sedge Mat Production - Service - Tourism Cooperative (Tuy An District) launched a tour to visit, learn about and experience sedge mat weaving in Phu Tan village. This craft village has a sedge growing area of ​​over 25 hectares and nearly 600 workers directly involved in weaving mats. Through the tours, tourists are increasingly aware of this traditional craft village that is over 100 years old with new and interesting experiences.

Mr Nguyen Van Hoang, Vice Chairman of Tuy An District People's Committee, informed: The district has issued a project to preserve and develop Phu Tan sedge mat weaving village in association with tourism development. Accordingly, the district has allocated 2.8 billion VND to support households in production to develop and expand the raw material growing area to 50 hectares. The locality has increased equipment, expanded the scale of production according to the value chain for sedge and sedge products as well as built a display, introduction, exchange and trading point for sedge mat craft products associated with the tourist destination at the national scenic landscape of O ​​Loan lagoon.

Developing numerous new tourism products

The development of traditional craft villages contributes to shifting the economic structure in rural areas, creating jobs and income for numerous local workers. Therefore, Phu Yen focuses on implementing the Program for Preserving and Developing Vietnamese Craft Villages for the period 2021-2030 approved by the Prime Minister. Numerous traditional craft villages are connected to form tours and routes serving high-quality experiential tourism. However, at present, the model of developing craft village tourism associated with agricultural and rural tourism still faces certain difficulties. In particular, legal documents and legal corridors for this tourism model are still incomplete.

Mr Nguyen Duc Thang, Head of the Provincial Rural Development Department (Department of Agriculture and Environment) shared that in order to develop craft villages associated with tourism, it is necessary to change the mindset from agricultural production to rural economic development in a synchronous manner. In addition, people must be trained in basic skills, especially ethnic minorities and mountainous areas. Provincial authorities are researching and developing mechanisms and policies to attract investment and encourage the development of community tourism.

Recently in Phu Yen, rural agricultural tourism associated with OCOP products has brought interesting experiences to tourists. The Provincial People's Committee has implemented a pilot project to build rural tourism models and develop OCOP products in new rural construction in the period of 2024-2025. Accordingly, 100% of rural tourist destinations will be supported to apply electronic transactions in tourism activities and will be introduced and promoted through communication channels on the internet; 70% of rural tourism business and service owners are trained in tourism management...

In this pilot project, there are 9 community tourism models and 1 agricultural tourism model implemented, including: Community tourism in Long Thuy village; Xi Thoai community tourism; Le Diem village cultural tourism site; Son Xuan red-tree garden community tourism; Tuyet Diem village salt production community tourism; Dong Sen eco-tourism combined with visiting and experiencing the traditional weaving village; Hon Yen community tourism; Phu Tan sedge mat village community tourism; Tourism in the coracle boat weaving and corn vermicelli production industry; High-tech agricultural experience tourism.

According to Mr Cao Hoang Nguyen, Head of Tourism Management Department (Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism), the province is investing in developing a number of traditional craft villages with strengths associated with the economic restructuring in rural areas. In the coming time, there will be at least 10 craft village products participating in the OCOP program and being awarded stars to serve tourists. The provincial tourism sector is developing additional incentive mechanisms to attract OCOP product owners to participate in displaying, introducing and selling products. Some products are gradually asserting their position in the market and are chosen by numerous tourists to buy. Through this, rural tourism and craft village tourism are promoted, contributing to creating jobs and income for local workers.

Source: Phu Yen Newspaper

Translated by HAI LOAN