A boost for tourism in the highlands of Quang Nam

The tourism potential of the Western region of the province is still largely untapped, a major issue of concern at the Quang Nam 2025 international travel conference held last weekend at Dong Giang Heaven's Gate Eco-tourism Area.

Leaders of Quang Nam province and representatives of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration chaired the Quang Nam 2025 international tourism conference held last weekend at Dong Giang Heaven's Gate Eco-tourism Area. Photo: QUOC TUAN

East-West tourism "balance"

In 2024, Quang Nam will welcome more than 8 million visitors, including about 5.5 million international visitors. This is a fairly large number but almost only concentrated in the eastern part of the province.

In the West, only Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area and Co Tu - Nam Giang Community-Based Tourism Village have a relatively stable number of visitors to operate continuously.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism acknowledged that in recent years, Quang Nam tourism has mainly developed in the Eastern region, promoting the strengths of sea tourism and heritage tourism, but has not strongly developed tourism in the West, and has not fully promoted the indigenous cultural values ​​of ethnic minority areas.

Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area is a rare destination that has maintained a stable number of visitors in the Western Quang Nam region in recent times. Photo: QUOC TUAN

At the conference, Quang Nam announced the Hoi An - My Son - Dong Giang Heaven Gate tourism corridor. This is the first tourism corridor of the province, expected to create more momentum to promote tourism in the Western region with the center being Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area.

On this occasion, Quang Nam Tourism Association signed with Indian travel companies; meanwhile, FVG Travel Group Joint Stock Company and travel partners in Vietnam, Thailand, and India also signed a memorandum of understanding to promote tourist exchange to promote Quang Nam tourism in general and especially to promote tourism to the Western Quang Nam region in particular.

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province's 6 highland districts alone currently have 68 out of a total of 128 rural tourism areas, spots and villages in the province, a huge "treasure" waiting to be opened to reduce the "balance" of tourism between the East and the West of Quang Nam.

Mr. Le Quoc Viet - Chairman of the Quang Nam Destination Club - Preserving Indigenous Values ​​(Quang Nam Tourism Association) informed that the club has currently built 10 tourist routes connecting within the Quang Nam region, including many routes connecting from East to West that are very popular with international tourists who have a passion for "backpacking".

The unit hopes to coordinate with the authorities to soon organize a "tourism festival" in Quang Nam to promote more strongly these tourist routes to bring more tourists to the West.

Focused investment and respect for culture

Participating in the workshop, Mr. Pham Thanh Tung - Deputy Director of the Institute of Agricultural Economics and Tourism said that destinations in the Western Quang Nam region do not have the right awareness about choosing customer segments suitable to their internal strength.

At the conference, FVG Travel Group Joint Stock Company and travel partners in Vietnam, Thailand, and India signed a memorandum of understanding to promote tourism development. Photo: QUOC TUAN

Therefore, before developing destinations and products, it is necessary to consult with consultants and competent experts in the field of mountain tourism development to advise and connect with suitable customer streams.

“Authorities need to review the planning and land use plans to see if they have conveyed the strategic intention of tourism development. In addition, it is necessary to identify the “tourism artery” of the mountainous region of Quang Nam, thereby creating a seamless tour arc connecting Da Nang - Quang Nam. In the context of limited investment resources, it is necessary to identify a main “tourism route” to focus on investing in infrastructure, destinations, tours... to promote mountainous tourism, instead of investing in a scattered manner,” Mr. Tung suggested.

According to Ms. Ta Thi Tu Uyen - Director of Product and Service Department, Vietravel Company, for Dong Giang Heaven Gate eco-tourism area and surrounding areas, it is necessary to clearly define natural sightseeing routes (walking paths in the forest, caves) and instruct tourists to comply, in order to preserve the sensitive ecosystem.

At the same time, respect the truth in cultural performances, only organize cultural activities and Co Tu festivals at appropriate times and spaces, with the consent and active participation of the Co Tu community, avoiding turning culture into a mere "commodity".

Preserving the Co Tu culture needs to go hand in hand both in the community (teaching the language, writing, and traditional occupations to the younger generation) and in tourism activities (introducing the true nature and meaning of customs to visitors).

Secretary of the Central Youth Union, President of the Vietnam Youth Union - Nguyen Tuong Lam said, there should be more mechanisms and policies to support ethnic minority youth to develop ecotourism. This is the subject that understands the natural and social ecosystem of the highlands.

At the same time, it is necessary to build a network connecting young people to start tourism businesses, connecting young people with tourism businesses to create many job opportunities and career development right in the West. From there, contributing to promoting sustainable development of mountain tourism, sharing benefits harmoniously with local people.

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/cu-hich-cho-du-lich-vung-cao-quang-nam-3150387.html