Removing the "bottleneck" in developing agricultural and rural tourism

Cycling through the blooming rice fields, visiting and enjoying fruit trees in the garden, bathing in streams, watching waterfalls, exploring forests; visiting special tree and animal farming models, enjoying local specialties, visiting and learning about the customs and traditional culture of the indigenous people... are attractive tourism trends, appealing to a variety of tourists.

Rural tourism flourishes

This is considered a type of rural tourism, which is developing quite strongly in many places, because it is sustainable, helping to preserve and develop the culture, history and traditions of a land. At the same time, it diversifies tourism products and opens up many new business opportunities for local people, especially in rural areas.

Tourists love the experience at the dragon fruit garden.

In Binh Thuan , rural tourism in recent times has mainly been in the form of visiting craft villages, learning about historical and cultural relics, festivals... Recently, some localities in the province have begun to appear models of investing in agricultural farms combined with sightseeing, taking photos, checking in, and shopping for agricultural products. Typical examples include the high-tech agricultural farm Binh An Farm in Thuan Quy commune (Ham Thuan Nam) with dragon fruit, grapes, and melons grown in greenhouses; the Sau Truc fruit garden model (Ham Minh commune - Ham Thuan Nam district), experiencing durian gardens in Da Mi commune or visiting the Hoa Le Dragon Fruit Cooperative with typical products of the "green dragon" (Ham Thuan Bac); visiting the model of how to grow clean rice, produce cordyceps mushrooms and a snail farm in Vo Xu town (Duc Linh)...

In many places in the province, agricultural farm investment models combined with tourism have begun to appear.

In addition, many tourists also like to stay in tents along the La Nga River, along the streams and enjoy dishes prepared by local people, watching dragon fruit gardens lit up with colorful lights at night. It can be seen that nowadays, many tourists are very fond of the agricultural and rural tourism model because of the reasonable cost, being able to relax, immerse themselves in the fresh, peaceful space, and enjoy fresh, safe fruits right in the garden and buy them as gifts for friends and relatives...

Visiting and enjoying fruit on the spot is a trend of many tourists.

However, rural tourism is currently mostly spontaneous because it is quite difficult to complete legal procedures for rural tourism sites. Because most of the land in rural areas is land for growing rice, crops and perennial crops, the procedures for tourism are very complicated in terms of legality. Therefore, the model of agricultural and rural tourism is in need of strong enough mechanisms and policies to create a boost, awaken potential and open up development directions... Recently, the Binh Thuan Tourism Information Promotion Group conducted a survey at some forest - lake - waterfall tourist sites in Tanh Linh, Duc Linh and Ham Thuan Bac. The group noted the effectiveness of tourism in this model, as well as the difficulties that these tourist sites are facing.

Nowadays, rural tourism is mostly spontaneous because completing legal procedures for rural tourism destinations is quite difficult.

Untie the knot

In the strategic orientation of Vietnam's tourism development, ecotourism associated with agriculture and rural areas is identified as one of the five main product lines. Agricultural tourism models with the direct participation of local people have created a rich and attractive tourism product. At the same time, it brings higher income to farmers, becoming a method of poverty reduction... Developing agricultural tourism also helps diversify mixed tourism products and services for tourists, increasing the flow of tourists to rural areas. As well as extending the tourism season during the industry's low season.

Ecotourism associated with agriculture and rural areas is identified as one of the five main product lines.

According to the relevant authorities, the implementation of agricultural tourism development has encountered many difficulties and obstacles due to legal "bottlenecks". For example, areas with potential for tourism development are often located in very special locations such as protective forests, special-use forests or natural landscapes, perennial crop land... However, the Forestry Law and the Land Law do not allow the conversion of land use purposes or the construction of works to serve services at that location. However, the revised Land Law 2024, which took effect on August 1, has opened up directions for this model to develop, with regulations on multi-purpose land use. Accordingly, local people can use agricultural land for other purposes such as services, creating ecological zones, rural tourism to be able to invest in the construction of works serving tourism services to promote potential. Another point, the 2024 Land Law also amends the Forestry Law to allow the formation of eco-tourism and resort tourism services in special-use forests and protective forests, but must follow the process approved by competent authorities and in the right order. This is also a bright spot and open direction for the development of agricultural and rural tourism in the coming time.

Diversify mixed tourism products and services for tourists, increase tourist flow to rural areas.

According to the orientation and planning for tourism development of Binh Thuan province, high-tech agricultural tourism areas will be formed in some key areas of the province. Develop high-tech agricultural tourism projects, in which prioritize resources to implement component projects of the OCOP Program in the province. At the same time, build support mechanisms and policies to facilitate investment attraction in developing rural tourism and community tourism models. For community tourism sites, there will be synchronous planning, strict management, ensuring a secure, safe, clean and friendly tourism environment. Focus on removing existing problems and difficulties, creating conditions for rural tourism and community tourism models to develop strongly on the basis of local potentials and advantages...

The legal "knot" for rural tourism model has been opened.

The Land Law has been "opened", along with specific tourism development orientations and plans of the province, in the coming time potential lands for agricultural tourism will be developed legally.

MINH VAN, PHOTO: N. LAN

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/luat-dat-dai-nam-2024-go-nut-that-phat-trien-du-lich-nong-nghiep-nong-thon-124067.html