Quang Nam (VNA) - Combining agricultureand tourism has huge potential for Vietnam, but putting the plan into practiceis still a long way off.

The lack of planning, strategy and training isholding the idea back, said Nguyen Quy Phuong, an official from the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism (VNAT), during a recent seminar on sustainableeco-tourism and agriculture and rural development.

Phuong said agri-tourism would help local farmerspreserve their traditions and culture, while improving the income and livingstandards.

He said with 70 percent of population living inrural areas, the new ‘green’ industry would have rapid growth.

“Local farmers could use their produce andproduction as a craft demonstration to tourists, while earning more fromtourism service beyond than the harvest itself,” Phuong said.

Phuong said the agri-tourism in Vietnam stillneeded a master plan and positive support from relevant agencies as well asconnections among communities and locals in boosting the ‘green’ industry.

He said agri-tourism had been successful inThailand, Japan and Taiwan, but it was still a new concept here.

Vice Director of Quang Nam province’s Departmentof Culture, Sports and Tourism Le Ngoc Tuong said agri-tourism would be asolution in easing overloaded tourism in some destinations in the coming years.

“Suburban in Hoi An including Tra Que vegetablegarden, Thanh Ha pottery village, Cam Thanh nipa-palm village, white corn farmin Cam Nam village and carpentry Cam Kim village developed in Hoi An city,” Tuongsaid.

“However, three of five villages in Hoi An had thesame agri-tourism product such as Tra Que, An My and Thanh Dong – offeringvegetable farming demonstrations and cuisine,” he said, adding that visitorscome to the three villages with the same service (learn how to grow vegetableand enjoy cooking).

He suggested that it needed a positiveco-operation between the ministries of agriculture and rural development andVNAT in building key samples and standards for synchronised development in thenear future.

He said agri-tourism also needed huge investmentin infrastructure, brand promotion and information technology.

According to the latest report, Quang Nam welcomedmore than six million tourists in 2017, of whom 2.8 million were foreigners.That’s a massive 85 percent growth in comparison to 2016, earning 9.2 trillion VND(407 million USD).

Director of Da Nang city’s Department ofAgriculture and Rural Development, Nguyen Phu Ban said the city has developed150ha organic rice farm and hi-tech vegetable gardens in suburban districts,but agri-tourism has yet promoted, even the city welcomed 6.7 million touristsin 2017 with  revenue of 19 trillion VND(840 million USD).

Only 4,000 local visitors came to the organic vegetablefarms in districts of Hoa Vang, Cam Le and villages of Tuy Loan, La Huong and HoaKhuong, he said, adding that agriculture has yet joined in with other tourismprojects.

Phan Xuan Thanh, from Emic Hospitality Hoi Antravel agency, said farmers had to live well from their trade first, whiletourism service would be an added income.

“Agriculture is a base in the agri-tourism modeland sustainable development in the future. Tourism will help farmers preservetheir crafts, land and livelihood as well as rural lifestyle that theyinherited from generations,” Thanh said.

He said tourists would pay much more than resortsservice if they really enjoy rural life and practice farming skills with localfarmers as well as community lifestyle and culture.

Pham Ha, CEO and founder of Luxury Travel Company,said tourists really want to explore local lifestyles during their visit.

They come to Vietnam to understand how farmersgrow rice and cook from farm produce, and they even cook themselves after adaily life on farm experience tour service, Ha said.

“Many locals and provinces did the same product.Each province should build their own unique agri-tourism product, while VNATshould create a standard model at each local that base on potential farmproduct in developing a diversity of agri-tourism service,” Ha added.

He added that this would help farmers create theirown beautiful rural scenery and a clean environment.

While waiting for positive measures offered byVNAT and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, farmers at somelocations still do their own way of angri-tourism service to improve theirincome.

More than 200 households living in Tra Quevegetable garden – one of the most favourite site in Hoi An, earn 500,000 VND (22USD) each day from tourism and cooking service at herb farms.  Eachhousehold in Tra Que also earn 22 USD more from supplying 30kg of freshvegetable to local market each day.-VNA