Khanh Hoa Province has seen a rapid growth in sea and island tourism...
Khanh Hoa Province has seen a rapid growth in sea and island tourism. However, according to some tourism experts, Khanh Hoa is just popular for relaxation and sightseeing tours. Tourism success needs to go hand in hand with sea and island cultural sustainability.
Khanh Hoa boasts a 385km coastline with over 200 islands and many magnificent bays, including Van Phong, Nha Trang and Cam Ranh. Various coastal resorts include Vinpearl Land, Diamonbay and Ana Mandara together with many world leading hotel trademarks such as Sheraton, Novotel, Marriot, etc.
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| Tours to Hon Noi Island, Nha Trang combines the natural beauty and sea culture. |
However, culture and community tourism is limited. The so-called home stay is not popular. There are few tours designed to discover the local sea and island culture, including local festivities or folk music performances. Therefore, at the conference on Khanh Hoa sea and land culture held at Sea Festival 2011, many experts suggested that Khanh Hoa should focus on sea-land cultural resources to promote tourism.
Accordingly, besides sight-seeing travel, sea and island culture tours should be held for tourists to discover the local culture, specifically lifestyles, history, art and festivities such as Cau Ngu Festival, Ky An Festival, ba trao singing, etc. suggested tourism experts.
Tourism is cultural activity for recreational, leisure or discovery of values of the areas outside their usual environment. “Tourism will become boring if cultural elements are omitted,” said Phan Thanh Truc, Chief of the Bureau of Tourism Resource Planning under the Department of Culture, Sport & Tourism. "For sustainable tourism development, various tourism products should be promoted based on intangible cultural heritages in coastal areas to attract visitors," suggested Dr. Tu Thi Loan, Institute of Culture & Arts (Ministry of Culture, Sport & Tourism).
According to Dr. Tu Thi Loan, unique culture should be added to adventure and relaxation tours to introduce the charms hidden in intangible cultural heritages; develop traditional career villages and promote community tourism, which can also contribute to the locals’ participation in cultural preservation.
Coastal communities still keep unique customs and traditions, says Dr. Nguyen Van Luu, Deputy Chief of the Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism Department. Tourists can stay with the local coastal villagers and thus they will have a chance learn about the locals’ daily life, their fishing practices and shell handicraft.
Besides investment in infrastructures, tourism development must go hand in hand with preservation and promotion of sea and island culture for sustainable development.
N.T
