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Tourists to the ancient capital of Hue will have the chance to
enjoy the real life of the old city rather than just viewing relics or landscape
as they usually do.
Community-based tourism was included in the city authorities' strategy to
attract 3 million tourists by 2015, confirmed Ngo Hoa, deputy chairman of Thua
Thien-Hue Provincial People's Committee.
With the support from the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA), the
city chose the model of traditional markets on Thanh Toan tile-roofed bridges in
Thuy Thanh Commune to develop.
In fact, the Thanh Toan market day was revitalised during the Hue Festival and
gained tourists' applause. However, only the tourists who went on tours were
introduced to the spot. In addition, few local households got involved in
providing the service so the number of beneficiaries remained limited.
JICA will help set up an office for the village's tourism management which will
monitor the local tourism quality and enlarge the service scale so more local
residents can take participate in tourism.
Travel agencies and information providers are encouraged to co-operate in
bringing more tourists to the destination. Field trips will be organised to test
out tour quality.
Elsewhere in Phong Dien District's Phong Hoa Commune, Phuoc Tich ancient
village, which is home to 40 hundred-year-old nha ruong (houses built with many
beams and pillars), has been selected to develop homestays.
JICA also sent Mizokami Yoshihiro, a Japanese ceramic expert to help the village
maintain its traditional ceramics production by creating new products based on
their traditional technique. More than 20 villagers, most of them old artisans,
took part in the programme.
The community-based tourism does not only refresh tourism in the old city but
help create more jobs and improve the incomes of local people.
Apart from JICA, the Netherlands Development Organisation SNV helped 70 local
residents get jobs as tourism service providers and craft sellers for Huyen Tran
cultural centre in An Tay Ward.
This was a good way to promote Hue cultural values and the easiest way for local
people to market their traditional crafts, Hoa said.
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