Community-based tourism is an emerging trend chosen by many tourists. Not only does this type of tourism help people protect ecological resources but it also preserves, and promotes the unique cultural features of the locality.

Community-based tourism people in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang join training on how to create menus for local cuisine. Photo: T.H

Efficiently tapping and promoting community-based tourism quality

On weekends, eco-tourism and community-based sites in Hoa Bac Commune, Hoa Vang District, Da Nang are usually crowded with many locals and tourists. Most of the services are experienced by people going back and forth during the day such as eating, drinking coffee, cycling and sightseeing.

Hoa Bac is a mountainous commune of Hoa Vang District, housing two Co Tu villages: Ta Lang and Gian Bi. This place still retains many features of traditional culture, natural landscape, suitable for eco-tourism and community-based tourism. However, people are still gradually improving services to meet the growing needs of tourists.

At the end of March 2023, the Hoa Bac Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism Cooperative was established with about 20 key members and associated members who are all the owners of homestays and food service providers.

Ms. Do Thi Huyen Tram, the CEO of Hoa Bac Cooperative for Ecological Agriculture and Community Tourism said: “The members of the cooperative are homestay owners and service businesses and families doing traditional craft, so we want to introduce tourists to services, products and agricultural products here. Each family builds up a service with its own characteristics associated with its own interesting stories. Depending on tourists, we will choose the service that is suitable to tourists. We always wonder how the members of the cooperative are engaged in that common activity, preserving the distinctive features and identity of the locality".

Sharing the same opinion, Mr. Nguyen Van Trung, the owner of Trung Tam homestay located in Gian Bi Village, said that in order to do community-based tourism, it is necessary to make a difference and develop products highly attractive to visitors so that they can enjoy fun and unforgettable travel experience during their stay there. In the two villages of Ta Lang and Gian Bi, along with the language, the ‘Tung Tung Za Za’ dance can be kept and promoted. The dance of offering to the heaven has been closely reflected the spiritual aspiration of the Co Tu people for many years. The movements in the “Tung tung za za” dance simulate daily routines of the Co Tu people such as harvesting, catching fish, hunting animals and festivals.

If possible, it is advisable to further study the traditional costumes and restore the former traditional houses of the Co Tu people. According to Mr. Trung, the traditional costumes of the Co Tu people are very beautiful with 3 typical colours: red representing the sun, black implicating the earth and yellow honouring crops. If the people in the village all wear traditional costumes even on weekdays, when tourists come up, they will be very excited, thus making a difference.

Increasing attractiveness of community-based tourism

As a regular participant in performing ‘Tung tung za za’ dances at homestays and local campfire programmes, Ms. Nguyen Thi Le, a resident in Ta Lang Village, also wishes to have more attractive, unique tourism products to lure more guests to stay longer and experience more, from which local people will secure stable jobs from tourism activities.

In fact, the development of community-based tourism needs a lot of factors, in addition to experience, accommodation, it is highly recommended to pay more attention to food. Mr. Dao Trong Kien, the Deputy Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute, noted that those doing service and community-based tourism must keep the cultural identity and typical local cuisine.

This is the core issue to attract guests because when guests come, they are not only introduced to local culture and simple dishes, but also stories related to cuisine. Tourists are interested in enjoying dishes made from local agricultural products.

The Da Nang Department of Tourism said that the industry has been interested in improving the quality of community-based tourism to increase the attraction and experience for visitors. The tourism industry is also very interested in developing eco-tourism and community-based products, introducing these products to a large number of local residents and visitors.

Recently at the ‘Enjoy Da Nang 2023’ summer festival, there was a re-enactment of the traditional weaving space of the Co Tu people so that visitors could experience this time-honoured craft. Besides, the Department of Tourism also organised training sessions on serving tourists and skills in organising buffets for large groups of guests.

These training courses will help local people gradually improve their customer service skills. In addition, to add new tourism products, from now until the end of the year, the city's tourism industry is expected to form eco-tours combined with community-based tourism in Hoa Bac Commune and new agriculture in Hoa Vang District.

Reporting by THU HA - Translating by A.THU