Because this type of tourism not only contributes to protecting and promoting inherent cultural values ​​but also creates sustainable livelihoods for ethnic minorities and mountainous people to develop economically on their homeland.

The unique indigenous cultures of the Mong people, Hang Kia, Mai Chau, Hoa Binh attract tourists.

Vietnam already has true community tourism villages

Community tourism is a type of tourism that is exploited based on indigenous cultural values. Vietnam currently has 54 ethnic groups, of which up to 53 ethnic minorities live scattered throughout the country’s territory. With the strength of natural landscape, unique culinary culture, friendly and open people’s behavior… if developed in the right direction and with good management, Vietnam can become a top destination. world on community tourism development.

According to statistics from the General Department of Tourism, by 2020, the whole country will have about 300 villages and hamlets with community tourism activities with more than 5,000 homestays operating, accommodating about 100,000 guests. However, there are only about 2,000 of them that are recognized as meeting standards to serve tourists.

In fact, if they manage well, just invest a moderate amount of money, take advantage of the natural landscape and different local culture, households can participate in community tourism business activities. community, improving lives effectively and sustainably.

According to Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI), countries have been developing community tourism for a long time and they have gradually promoted the full inherent value of each destination, bringing value to the community. great for the community, economically sustainable for the local community.

In Vietnam, community tourism was formed and developed in Vietnam since the mid-90s of the last century, in the Thai ethnic region in Ban Lac (Mai Chau, Hoa Binh). After nearly 3 decades, the attraction of community tourism is increasingly spreading and becoming one of the most popular types of tourism for tourists coming to ethnic minority and mountainous areas in the provinces. The North such as Lao Cai, Hoa Binh, Son La, Ha Giang, Yen Bai, Thai Nguyen…

Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI), Chairman of the Vietnam Community Tourism Association (VCTC), said that in Vietnam, community tourism development also has tourist villages. true community calendar. “Why do I use the word “literally”, because many localities or even many experts take homestay development as community tourism development, thereby causing misunderstandings and lack of understanding about community tourism. Many experts focus on developing accommodation, destroying the inherent cultural values ​​of local people,’ Mr. Quynh emphasized.

According to the Director of ATI, community tourism not only brings many economic and social benefits to people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas but also has great significance in the work of hunger eradication and poverty reduction. of the Party and State, ensuring balance and financial and social sustainability of the country. This means that for developing countries, especially in Vietnam with many ethnic minority groups, building and developing community tourism can ensure a breakthrough for future tourism success. hybrid.

Mr. Quynh said that not only does it awaken the potential vitality of many tourism resources, community tourism also creates sustainable livelihoods for people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, through tourism that serves services tourists come to experience such as accommodation, tour guides, culinary business, production and sales of local specialties and souvenirs…

Sharing more about the benefits of developing community tourism, according to Mr. Nguyen Van Tai, CEO of VietSense Travel, this model has contributed to raising awareness of building a cultural environment and civilized, clean landscape. will contribute positively to preserving the national cultural identity of ethnic minorities and mountainous areas.

“Developing community tourism has been creating a difference to attract tourists to mountainous and island localities. Promoting the traditional cultural values ​​of ethnic minorities through festivals, costumes, cuisine… to bring the public and tourists unique experiences’, Mr. Tai emphasize.

Tourists experience it at Homestay Tai Ngao, Thuong Lam commune, Lam Binh district, Tuyen Quang.
Mobilize collective strength to develop strong and sustainable community tourism

Developing community tourism will bring dual benefits to people in ethnic minority and mountainous areas as experts have analyzed above. However, developing community tourism in ethnic minority and mountainous areas still faces many difficulties and challenges.
For example, some localities copy the methods of other places or build models without knowing the regulations, standards, and things necessary to develop sustainable community tourism.

Director of ATI cited: ‘Currently, in many localities, people open homestays and personal accommodation areas and think that they are doing community tourism. Or many people call experts to advise on community tourism where the investor and community owner is only one person. That reality shows that many people and many localities still do not understand the definition