Efforts to boost community-based tourism

The Da Nang authorities are planning to develop a project on promoting community-based tourism at the Tho Quang – Man Thai beach in Son Tra District.

A coffee service space on the Man Thai Beach

The intention of the project is to fully tap the advantages and potential of the tourism resources in a bid to develop new tourism products, and diversify tourism services and public utilities in the city.

The Deputy Head of the Management Board of the Son Tra Peninsula and Da Nang Tourism Beaches, Mr Phan Minh Hai, remarked the Tho Quang – Man Thai beach is suitable for developing community – based tourism.

In particular, the 1.2km-long, 70m-wide beach features a large number of coconut and willow trees, and sea morning glory.

The beach also is adjacent to the Tho Quang fishing village where fishermen conduct their daily livelihood activities such as going fishing and pulling fishing nets.

Besides, fascinating festivals are held every year in the village to show the fishermen’s strong desire for safe offshore fishing trips, with bumper catches.  Included are the whale worship cult, and the “Cau Ngu” festival.

Apart from being involved in fishing activities, the Tho Quang fishing village is also well-known for its fish sauce-making.  It is very famous for many types of mam (salted fish) such as ‘mam nem’ (a type of fish sauce, made from small fish or small shrimps) and ‘mam ruoc’ (fermented shrimp paste).

Mr Hai highlighted the significance of the project in promoting the development of community-based tourism in the city, thereby attracting even more visitors to the city in coming time.

The project will be implemented in the coastal area in the Tho Quang and Man Thai wards in Son Tra District. The about 1.2km-long area will stretch from the northern side of the Fusion Suites Danang Beach project to the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Exhibition House, and a residential area on the western side of the Hoang Sa – Vo Nguyen Giap route. It will be implemented within 5 years.

On the basis of learning about the community-based tourism model in the Boracay Island in the Philippines and the actual situation at the Tho Quang and Man Thai beach, the project will feature six 80m-long and 20m-wide clusters of tourism services with an area of 1,600m2 each.

Each cluster will feature between 5 and 9 tourism services, including drinks, food and souvenirs.

In addition, the focus will be on fully exploiting such tourism potential combined with the preservation of traditional fishing villages, introducing daily life activities of the villagers to visitors, and creating the opportunities for visitors to experience the life of fishermen or fishing activities.

DA NANG Today