Ninh Thuận weaves cultural heritage into transformation of local tourism

Tourists visit Po Klong Garai tower in Ninh Thuận Province's Phan Rang-Tháp Chàm City. VNA Photo

NINH THUẬN – The central coastal province of Ninh Thuận is taking measures to make the most of its cultural heritage advantage to attract more tourists.

Ninh Thuận is home to two famous national relic sites: Hoà Lai and Po Klong Garai towers, 18 cultural heritage sites, and 52 revolutionary historical sites, communal houses, temples, and shrines ranked at the provincial level.

Notably, Ninh Thuận has the art of Đờn Ca Tài Tử (amateur southern folk music) recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, and the "Cham pottery making art" inscribed on the list of intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Additionally, the province has four artifacts recognized as national treasures: Hoà Lai Stele, Relief of King Po Rome, Phước Thiện Stele, and Statue of King Po Klong Garai.

Ninh Thuận is also home to several unique festivals, such as the Kate Festival, the Ramuwan New Year Celebration of the Chăm people, the “Bỏ Mả” (Farewell to the Dead) of the Raglai ethnic minority group, and the Whale Worship Festival of the coastal communities.

To maximize the value of its cultural heritage, the locality has continuously worked to restore and renovate historical and cultural sites while preserving their unique cultural and artistic values, and connecting these sites into attractive tourism clusters to draw a larger number of visitors.

To meet the increasing demand of visitors for local cultural and product experiences, the local tourism industry has closely collaborated with traditional craft villages, such as Bầu Trúc Pottery and Mỹ Nghiệp brocade weaving to develop vibrant and attractive tour packages. This allows visitors to directly observe and learn about the production processes and purchase distinctive handicrafts that reflect the Chăm culture.

Recently, the launch of a pedestrian street in Phan Rang - Tháp Chàm City has brought a "fresh wind" to the local tourism and cultural activities. Featuring a diverse array of cultural and artistic activities from the Chăm and Raglai communities, the pedestrian street has become an appealing destination for tourists. It provides opportunities for artists, students, and residents to interact, showcase their talents, and collaboratively preserve and promote the rich traditional cultural values of the ethnic groups.

In its Tourism Development Plan for the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030, Ninh Thuận aims to turn tourism into a key economic sector. The province emphasises the importance of developing cultural tourism associated with the preservation and promotion of heritage values to create new and distinctive products, with a focus on sea tourism and Chăm cultural tourism.

According to Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Nguyễn Long Biên, the locality is concentrating on developing and refreshing tourism products, shifting from broad-based growth to a focus on depth, with priority given to high-quality products that strongly reflect local cultural heritage. Consequently, Ninh Thuận is investing in infrastructure and developing tourism products linked to historical and cultural values. - VNA/VNS