Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Agriculture and RuralDevelopment Le Minh Hoan on March 15 said that agritourism should be turnedinto an integrated economic sector with agricultural products and typicalcharacteristics of ru꧟ral areas being used as resources to serve the tourismindustry.

Speaking at a teleconference on tourism, Hoan saidthat the National Strategy for Sustainable Agriculture and Rural Developmentfor the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050, already approved by the PrimeMinister, affirms that rural tourism development is identified as one of thefundamental solutions, a driving force for promoting sustainable new-style rural areas, contributing to bringing into play the advantages and distinctivevalues of agriculture, rural areas, and farmers.

At the same time, thedevelopment of new-style rural areas is the foundation to support and createfavourable conditions for the diversified and sustainable development ofagritourism. The National Target ༺Programme on building new-style rural areasfor the period of 2021-2025 has also added components to the development ofagritourism.

Hoan said over the past time, agritourism has recorded strong growth, bringing new “fresh air” and vitality to rural areas. Preliminary statistics showed that Vietnam currently has about500 agritourism and rural tourism models. Thanks to the models, people in remote areas become moreconfident and active, many villages got prosperous and values of agricultural products as well as One Commune One Product (OCOP) products have increased thanks totourism businesses. Rice fields, terraced fields, orchards, rivers, streams,ponds, lakes, and fishing villages are all connected to unique destinations onthe visitors’ journey of experience. Knowledge, indigenous culture, folkcuisine, and traditional rituals are awakened thanks to tourism. Agritourism does not only brings higher incomes to people, andeconomic benefits to localities, but also creates other intangible valuesthat help popularise images of Vietnam's agriculture, and promote agriculturalproducts right at the farms. Agritourism also introduces and promotes images of Vietnam’s ruralareas with diverse cultural identities and hospitable rural people. Italso helps increase community connectivity, calling for jointly building green,clean, and beautiful countrysides and preserving its values. However, Hoan said agritourism still faces difficulties asmany localities have not yet seen the potential of this type of tourism andpaid insufficient attention. Many models were developed spontaneously, without makingdifferences, he said, adding that supporting mechanisms and policies have not yet become thedriving force to develop a tourism industry that brings both economic andsocial values. Hoan saidthat it’s time to change the attitude towards the importance and values ofagritourism so that it can become a part of the tourism industry.

He suggested the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourismconsider adding agritourism to the National Tourism Programme to promote andenrich tourism resources.

Agritourism must be developed in a sustainable, iꦐnclusive,and multi-valued way. It effectively makes use of and promotes traditionalvalues🍨, production and farming practices, agricultural activities, and thetypical ecological environment, associated with digital transformation. Thecommunity should be placed at the centre when developing tourism products, according to the minister.

It is necessary to strengthen the connection in agritourism,and form high-quality, diversified, and attractive tours and routes, he added./.