Recently, besides promoting landscapes and monuments system, Thua Thien Hue Province also pays attention to develop community-based tourism aiming to uphold cultural values of Hue and link more tourist spots in this area.
Based on the tourist route "village market in festival", the Thua Thien-Hue Province's Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism coordinated with the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) to choose Thanh Toan tiled-roof Bridge, in Thuy Thanh commune, Huong Thuy town, to carry out project "Developing community-based tourism".
Since the "Village market in festival" tourist route has become a favorite destination of domestic and int'l tourists, its tourists infrastructure system has often been enhanced and local people have been improved with tourism knowledge and skill to serve visitors.
JICA will set up a tourism office and a tourism management board for the village focusing on developing tourist products, enhancing local community livelihood and encouraging the involvement of travel agencies in the project.
In the framework of JICA's projects to help Thua Thien-Hue develop community based tourism, Phuoc Tich ancient village- a 500-year old village located in Phong Hoa commune, Phong Dien district has also been chosen to launch project "Upholding the community's role in sustainable development through tourism" in recent years.
Based on Homestay model, the Phuoc Tich village welcomed a large number of tourists visiting and exploring culture, architecture and local community life. In addition, JICA also helps the ancient village restore the production of pottery based on traditional techniques. It is hoped that this project will bring more jobs, improve income for local people as well as create more chance to develop traditional pottery production.
The Permanent Vice Chairman of the Thua Thien-Hue People's Committee, Mr. Ngo Hoa said the cooperation between organizations, national and int'l businesses in the community-based tourism development will bring benefit to all stakeholders. Furthermore, this is also a good chance to promote Hue's culture and products to the world. To craft villages, community-based tourism is considered as a favorable model to promote traditional handicrafts to tourists.
Translated by Thanh Pham (TITC)