CONSULTATION MEETING ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT AT SONG THANH NATIONAL PARK AND ELEPHANT SPECIES AND HABITAT CONSERVATION AREA FOR THE 2023-2030 PERIOD

In September 2023, Center for Nature Conservation and Development (CCD) organized a consultation meeting, in coordination with Management Board of Song Thanh National Park, Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area, and Sustainable Forest Management and Biodiversity Conservation (VFBC) Project Management Board at Quang Nam province on building a tourism development plan for Song Thanh National Park and Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area for the 2023–2030 period. More than 30 delegates participated in the meeting, including representatives of departments, branches, and districts of Quang Nam Province and tourism experts.

During the meeting, CCD shared the potential, vision as well as challenges for tourism development at Song Thanh National Park and Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area. In regard to both special-use forests being established a few years ago, there is a lack of resources and experience in developing and attracting investment for tourism.

In contribution to the tourism development plan, the meeting gathered comments, solutions on potential tourist spots, specific types of tourism products, and the resource mobilization mechanism in Song Thanh National Park, Elephant Species and Habitat Conservation Area. Overall, 02 special-use forests need long-term investment sources, with responsible development strategy. In addition, tourism in both special-use forests needs a coherence among important tourist destinations in Quang Nam, such as Hoi An, My Son, and other provinces, to increase the number of tourists. The plan also aims to utilize unique features in local custom, thus making benefits to the communities and reducing forest dependence.

In the course of its works, CCD aims to support national parks, nature reserves, and forest management board in Vietnam to develop tourism development strategies. CCD believes tourism is an effective tool to raise public awareness and responsibility toward environment protection. Tourism supports conservation, creating revenue for management and conservation activities, andgenerating prosperous opportunities for local communities.