Professionalizing tourism services

Over the past 5 years, tourism services managed and operated by the Mong people in Mu Cang Chai area have developed in a professional direction, preserving the inherent ethnic cultural identity, creating a beautiful impression, attracting tourists from all over.

In 2021, Mr. Ho A Di in Ta Chi Lu village, Pung Luong commune boldly borrowed 200 million VND from the bank to build a homestay called See Bungalow with 6 self-contained rooms located on the top of a towering hill.

Mr. Ho A Di shared: Instead of the usual community tourism method, lacking in amenities, right from the start of tourism, I was determined to build a complete tourism model, paying attention to developing facilities from rooms, space, landscape to human resources and creating experiences for tourists. I identified my customer base as international tourists to proactively learn English communication, in order to better serve the needs of tourists.

With that determination, Mr. Di has actively exploited and developed homestay services, experiences associated with terraced fields. Each room is designed and furnished simply to minimize costs.

The walls and roof are made of pine wood, the ceiling is made of bamboo, or the wide skirt of the Mong women, the brocade curtain, the chair made from tree trunks and the hand-woven bamboo products are used as decorative accents. Simple but creating a harmonious and beautiful whole.

At See Bungalow, in addition to admiring the beauty of terraced fields, visitors can also experience the daily life of local people such as: plowing, harrowing, planting rice, catching fish in the fields, harvesting rice; learning to use traditional musical instruments such as panpipes, flutes...

On average, every year, Mr. Di's family's See Bungalow welcomes thousands of visitors, not only during the rice harvest and flower season, but also during the year-round stay and tour, creating regular jobs for 4 local workers.

In Mu Cang Chai area, tourism like Ho A Di has become popular. Of the more than 140 accommodation establishments in the area, up to 70% are developed in this form. This place has been carefully invested in a system of fully equipped rooms, private bathrooms; designed from local materials such as wood, bamboo, rattan... decorated with a strong ethnic culture, creating a cozy, friendly feeling for visitors.

These establishments also invest in building spaces and campuses with lots of flowers and trees, and many beautiful miniature landscapes to serve check-in needs; meals combine tradition with modernity, are neat, delicious, and beautiful.

Local tourism workers are encouraged and supported to participate in training courses and vocational training on: tourism, housekeeping skills, local tour guides, cooking, bartending, foreign language learning, etc.

Through that, it has helped the Mong people here change their mindset, professional way of serving tourists, actively use social networks, booking applications, promote as well as connect households with travel companies, search and attract tourists.

Tourism products and services from restaurants, eateries, motorbike taxis, and tourist attractions are also developed and managed by local people and authorities to become professional.

Before the tourist season, localities simultaneously organized meetings with accommodation establishments, restaurants, porters, and motorbike taxi drivers in the area to thoroughly grasp and sign commitments to implement the following contents: not increasing prices, posting prices and hotlines according to regulations; ensuring a clean environment before welcoming guests, ensuring sufficient operating conditions according to regulations (business registration, tax code registration, food hygiene and safety certificate, fire prevention and fighting training certificate, etc.), making accommodation declarations, welcoming guests in a civilized and friendly manner, creating a good impression in the hearts of tourists.

Mr. Le Xuan Duong - Head of Culture - Social Department of Mu Cang Chai commune said:

Tourism activities in the commune have become more professional. Tourist accommodation, food and transportation service businesses are strictly managed. Entrance fees at tourist attractions are clearly posted. Passenger transport vehicles are required to wear their own uniforms, have prices listed on cards, are issued operating cards by the management authority, and have operating regulations such as: no soliciting, no soliciting customers; transparent prices; local drivers have driver's licenses. Food businesses have posted prices of items and hotline phone numbers.

Ms. Hoang Thi Trang, a tourist from Ninh Binh shared: It has been many years since I returned to Mu Cang Chai to travel during the ripe rice season. Everything has changed so much. The rooms are more beautiful and cleaner. There are more experience tours and check-in points for tourists to choose from, and the service is more professional and modern. I really like this change.

The gradual professionalization of tourism facilities, infrastructure, services, and human resources has helped the highland communes in Mu Cang Chai area welcome over 300,000 tourists each year, bringing good income to the people, and actively contributing to the local poverty reduction effort.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/chuyen-nghiep-hoa-dich-vu-du-lich-post884263.html