ETHNIC HERITAGE: A traditional dance performance at the Đăk Răng community-based village in Ngọc Hồi District in Kon Tum Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Khoa Chương

KON TUM — The Central Highlands Province of Kon Tum is seeking support from local businesses and tourism agencies for tourism promotion and development.

Bạch Thị Mân, deputy director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the province is strengthening linkages and cooperation with top provinces and cities that attract the most tourists in Việt Nam to create new tours connecting Kon Tum with these localities to welcome more domestic visitors.

Mân said Kon Tum is also focused on tourists from ASEAN countries, Northeast Asia, Europe, and America.

She added that the province welcomes visitors travelling via the Bờ Y International Border Gate in Ngọc Hồi District’s Bờ Y Commune.

The checkpoint, located at the tri-border area between Việt Nam, Laos and Cambodia, is an important trade hub among the three countries.

Võ Thị Bích Thảo, deputy director of the Hải Vân Kon Tum International Tourism Company, said the Bờ Y International Border Gate is a famous destination among local and foreign tourists. However, the company has faced many obstacles in building a tour via the border checkpoint because the immigration procedure takes a lot of time and causes bad experiences for tourists.

Meanwhile, Ê Ban, a representative of the Măng Đen Farm in Kon Plông District, said his company has faced legal barriers when investing and building tourism areas in the district.

He added they also had difficulties in recruiting and training local people due to their lack of skills and experience.

Mân said that the department will collaborate with universities, colleges and businesses to provide professional workers for the province’s tourism sector, and, at the same time, offer training for local people.

She expected to continue to receive support from businesses and partners to turn Kon Tum into an attractive destination among tourists in the country and abroad.

According to the department, Kon Tum has made great achievements in tourism in recent years such as offering diverse events and publicity to introduce the beauty of the province to tourists.

The number of tourists visiting the province has steadily increased over the years.

In the first six months of this year, Kon Tum welcomed more than 1.56 million visitors. Its tourism revenue reached VNĐ427 billion (US$16.7 million).

TRADITIONAL SKILL: An artisan introduces handloom weaving at the Handloom Fabrics Festival in Kon Tum City. — VNA/VNS Photo Dư Toán

With more than 55 per cent of the province's population made up of ethnic minorities, Kon Tum has launched a series of activities and publicity promoting ethnic heritage such as gong culture, handloom weaving, festivals, social customs, and architecture.

The province also considers developing community-based tourism as a key task of the tourism sector.

The province has 14 community-based tourism villages and tourism sites where tourists can enjoy beautiful natural landscapes and learn about the culture and lifestyle of ethnic groups.

Popular villages, such as Kon Kơ Tu in Kon Tum City and Đăk Răng in Ngọc Hồi District, offer visitors traditional food, gong dance performances, handloom weaving products, and tours to discover the history and folk tales of the Central Highlands told by the local elderly. — VNS