Paradox at the National Lagoon Park: Rich in potential, poor in tourism products

The Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon area stretches over 128km along the coast of Hue City. In particular, the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system is typical with a length of over 70km, a water surface area of ​​over 22,000ha, the largest in Southeast Asia with unique landscapes and ecological values, which are favorable conditions for Hue to promote tourism development. However, for many years, tourism products on the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon have remained poor and have not developed commensurate with their potential.

Recently, some tourist groups from Hanoi and Quang Ninh who had a trip to experience Tam Giang lagoon in Dan Dien commune (Hue city) were quite sad, if not disappointed, when the tour ended. On the lagoon, although the groups experienced many activities from rowing, cycling, pouring bamboo traps, and then cooking dishes from the catch, most of the tourists did not have any special impressions on this trip.

Tourists experience community tourism tour at Tam Giang lagoon in Dan Dien commune, Hue city.

“This is the first time we have experienced a vast lagoon system with beautiful scenery, a clean environment, and clear blue water... However, the experience content built by local tourism workers is unprofessional and not well-organized, lacking stories about the products, and the tourism products are monotonous and poor, making the experience less attractive,” said Nguyen Thi Kim Anh, a tourist in the group.

In the old Quang Dien district, the area of ​​Tam Giang lagoon is up to more than 3,400 hectares; of which, the lagoon area with a water surface area of ​​2,292 hectares has a potential diverse and rich ecosystem, the habitat of thousands of aquatic species with high economic value...

Many local people know that in Ngu My Thanh village (Dan Dien commune, Hue city) - located on the edge of Tam Giang lagoon, most of the households here used to live on the lagoon, then implemented the state's policy and settled on land; the people's lives then encountered many difficulties due to unstable and unsustainable jobs. In recent years, based on the potential and advantages of the lagoon, community tourism activities have gradually been promoted and created jobs for many households in the area, contributing to improving life and sustainable poverty reduction.

Some services that attract tourists include: experiencing SUP rowing to see the mangrove forest; experiencing fishing with local fishermen; enjoying fresh food; going to Ngu My Thanh floating market to buy seafood from the lagoon...

Local people also said that although many households and local tourism workers are passionate about developing tourism, due to the lack of cooperation and creative ideas from businesses and travel agencies, or unprofessional tourism products and services, the development of lagoon tourism in Hue has not yet fully exploited its potential. A representative of a travel agency in Hue City said that lagoon tourism resources in Hue are likened to an unpolished gem.

The Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon system with a water surface area of ​​over 22,000 hectares, the largest in Southeast Asia - is not only outstanding for its vast waters, but also for its residents whose lifestyle is closely linked to their livelihood on the lagoon, expressing their cultural identity through folk festivals, river beliefs... are valuable materials for creating tourism products.

Based on the results of a tourist survey to assess tourism products and services when developing the city's tourism development and tourism services project for the period 2025 - 2030, with a vision to 2045, the concern is that Hue has not yet effectively exploited tourism products in the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon area, the products here are still fragmented, small-scale, and unprofessional.

Mr. Tran Quang Hao, Director of Hue Tourism Investment & Services Joint Stock Company, who has been involved in lagoon tourism in Hue for many years, said that currently, there are many companies and units sending tourists to experience the lagoon, but few people building destination products. The number of businesses and travel agencies exploiting and building tourism products in the lagoon can be counted on the fingers. Explaining this problem, Mr. Hao said there are many reasons. Building river tourism products, including lagoons, requires many factors from boats, marinas, registration procedures, inspections and many other issues.

Meanwhile, Hue has not yet met the infrastructure requirements for developing lagoon tourism, from marinas, waterway planning, access roads to marinas, etc. In addition, lagoon tourism is highly seasonal due to the influence of weather and storms. These are the reasons why businesses and investors are still hesitant.

According to some travel businesses, the big wish of investors is that local authorities need to focus on reviewing detailed planning and land fund planning to promote investment, develop infrastructure and tourism facilities. Approving planning and managing planning well will create a basic premise for effective community tourism development on Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon. In addition, it is necessary to focus on building unique community tourism products, developing products in chains, and having brands.

Hue City leaders said that with the goal of turning Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon into a "National Lagoon Park" with wetlands and biosphere reserves of national and international importance; in the coming time, Hue City will continue to call for tourism investment on the lagoon system, renewing tourism products associated with rivers. In particular, focusing on mobilizing private resources to invest in lagoon tourism projects, aiming at green tourism, helping tourists experience the beauty of rivers and raising awareness of environmental protection.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/Tieu-diem-van-hoa/nghich-ly-tai-cong-vien-dam-pha-quoc-gia-giau-tiem-nang-ngheo-san-pham-du-lich-i783273/