Quang Nam Vietnam develops craft villages for tourism
11/06/08 (GMT+7)
Central Quang Nam province is developing its traditional craft villages to serve tourism, improving the living standards of their residents in the bargain.
Tran Minh Ca, Deputy Chairman of the province People’s Committee, said developing these villages is a priority for the tourism sector.
Last January, the People’s Committee launched a project to preserve and develop the province’s many craft villages through 2020.
To cost 661.5 billion VND (41 million USD), it will develop 43 villages that produce handicraft products and provide tourism services.
Kim Bong carpentry village, Ma Chau silkworm breeding and silk village, and Phuoc Kieu bronze-casting village are among those earmarked to welcome tourists.
The central province authorities have also encouraged investments in activities designed to promote the image of traditional craft villages.
Dinh Hai, Director of the Department of Tourism, said Hoi An has optimum conditions for developing craft villages to serve tourism.
The ancient town’s Kim Bong carpentry village, Thanh Ha pottery village and Tra Que vegetable village attract a large number of tourists, he said.
The Hoi An Tourism Company launched an imaginative tour three years ago inviting tourists, especially foreigners, to “Become a resident of the ancient town for one day” and visit craft villages.
At Tra Que vegetable village, the visitors get a chance to try their hand at farming. They can help plough the land, make beds, plant seedlings, and water vegetables.
This village has existed for at least 500 years and is famous for its many vegetables and herbs, especially savory, an aromatic herb.
The craft villages tours have helped diversify the province’s tourism offerings and enable tourists to stay in the province longer, according to analysts.
This has, in turn, benefited other sectors, especially handicraft production, they said.
Handicraft production currently accounts for 30-35 percent of the province’s economy.
Quang Nam attracted 1.9 million tourists and earned revenues of 1.5 trillion VND (93 million USD) last year.
It is home to two areas recognised as World Heritage sites – Hoi An and the Cham relics at My Son.
(Source: VNA, URL: http://english.vietnamnet.vn/travel/2008/06/787096/)
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