Lam Dong Promotes Community-Based Tourism Linked to Local Identity

Community-based tourism in Lam Dong has received growing attention from authorities, local governments, and residents. Based on existing resources, the province is currently focusing on three main forms of community-based tourism: tourism linked to agricultural production activities; tourism associated with traditional craft villages; and cultural tourism connected to the daily lives of ethnic minority communities.

In addition, Lam Dong is home to many traditional cultural festivals, which serve as valuable resources for developing distinctive community-based tourism products that help attract both domestic and international visitors.

To encourage and support community-based tourism, localities have incorporated various programs, projects, and initiatives, particularly National Target Programs, into tourism development frameworks.

Despite positive results, community-based tourism in Lam Dong still faces challenges. Infrastructure remains inadequate in some areas, while local residents’ awareness, organizational capacity, and tourism operation skills are limited. At the grassroots level, tourism management staff are insufficient in number and lack practical experience, affecting guidance and support effectiveness.

Links between tourism businesses and local communities remain loose, with limited mechanisms for fair benefit-sharing. Human resources for community-based tourism are both insufficient and underqualified, while traditional cultural values face the risk of erosion. Many tourism models have developed spontaneously, with substandard facilities and weak management, resulting in limited efficiency.

The draft plan to implement the National Scheme on Community-Based Tourism Development in Lam Dong is being prepared by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in close alignment with the Ministry-level scheme and relevant provincial programs before and after administrative restructuring.

The draft integrates National Target Programs, existing and ongoing community-based tourism projects funded by the central budget, and exemplary local models. It proposes 27 community-based tourism models tailored to local conditions and aligned with the functions and responsibilities of relevant sectors and agencies.

During the meeting, delegates suggested a range of solutions, including support for infrastructure development; training in tourism skills and cultural knowledge for local residents; improved access to capital; upgraded transport connections to tourism sites; strengthened promotion of traditional craft villages; and the establishment of coordination mechanisms linking government, businesses, and media to develop shared tourism promotion platforms.

In his concluding remarks, Vice Chairman Dinh Van Tuan emphasized that community-based tourism is an important development direction, contributing to the preservation and promotion of natural resources and indigenous cultural values while creating sustainable livelihoods for local people.

He requested departments, sectors, and localities to continue reviewing and refining mechanisms and policies; focus on addressing infrastructure bottlenecks, resource constraints, and human resource training; and strengthen cooperation among authorities, businesses, and local communities.