Lai Chau to host conference on tourism development in rural areas

The event is set to take place on December 5-6 in the north-western mountainous province of Lai Chau.

The Deputy PM, also head of the Central Steering Committee for National Target Programmes, has instructed the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to join hands with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People’s Committee of Lai Chau to organise the seminar.

According to the Central Coordination Office in New Rural Development, the national target programme on building new-style rural areas has given a face-lift to many Vietnamese localities, especially in infrastructure, creating optimal conditions for agritourism development in Vietnam’s traditional farming villages.

In return, agritourism is expected to serve as a motivation for the building of new-style rural areas for its contributions to economic reform, market expansion and conservation of cultural values and specialties in rural areas.

At present, various community-based tourism programmes have flourished in northern mountainous provinces of Hoa Binh, Son La, Lao Cai and Lai Chau, and central localities like Quang Nam province. 

The national target programme on building new-style rural areas, initiated by the government in 2010, laid out 19 criteria on socio-economic development, politics, and defence, aiming to enhance the development in rural regions of Vietnam. The list of criteria includes the development of infrastructure, the improvement of production capacity, environmental protection, and the promotion of cultural values.      

To date, the entire nation now has 3,542 communes that meet the standards of new-style rural areas (or 39.7% of all communes nationwide). Meanwhile, 55 districts in 28 provinces and cities have received the Prime Minister’s accreditation for fulfilling all criteria and completing their assigned mission in new-style rural building.