Cuc Phuong National Park and Sustainable and responsible tourism
Cuc Phuong is the first National Park (NP) of Vietnam. The Park has a diverse landscape with its unique tropical evergreen forest on limestone and karst caves system. Among nature’s beauties, the park is also home of Muong ethnic community with their unique culture that enriches the park’s potential. The potential could help the park to diversify its tourism services including community-based tourism activity to ensure that the local community will benefit from the park’s natural value. In its history of development, Cuc Phuong acquired a prominent role as a leading ecotourism and education activity. Currently, Cuc Phuong continues to provide new, unique and eco-friendly tourism products with its iconic events such as “Cuc Phuong the Spring Festival”; “Homecoming -a wildlife rehabilitation event” and “Jungle Trail”, … Those activities have impressed the public and increased the park’s recognition even in the difficult time of Covid-19 pandemic.
Continuing the support on sustainable and equitable tourism, the Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) is working with Cuc Phuong to formulate a framework of eco-tourism and community-based tourism. In the effort, the principles of sustainable tourism will be appropriately integrated into tourism plans and activities. The participation of local communities will be strengthened through community-based tourism in the park’s buffer zone. This approach aims to improve the local economy and livelihood for the Muong ethnic minority households then reduce their dependence on forest resources and to raise community awareness and be responsible for the park’s natural resources and conservation efforts.
CCD is also supporting other national parks, nature reserves, and protecting forests and provinces to formulate tourism development plans regarding the post-Covid-19 period. These strategies are strategically planned to adapt to new pandemic circumstances and the change of tourism in the future while conserving natural and cultural values remain as the principal goals. Thus, CCD will continue its support to build capacity and promote best practices to create smart and responsible tourism with high educational impact.
