Report on Sustainable Eco-Tourism Development in Lam Son Commune, Vietnam

Introduction

Lam Son Commune, located in Vietnam’s Khanh Hoa province, has established itself as a significant destination for garden ecotourism. Situated at an altitude of 1,400-1,600 meters, the commune leverages its cool climate and fertile land to cultivate high-value fruit orchards. This report analyzes Lam Son’s community-based tourism model, its economic and environmental impact, and its alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth & SDG 1: No Poverty

The garden ecotourism model in Lam Son directly contributes to local economic development and poverty reduction by creating sustainable income sources.

• Enhanced Livelihoods: The tourism initiative has substantially boosted the local economy, with household incomes from fruit garden tourism reaching nearly 1 billion VND.
• Economic Stimulation: The commune experiences an annual increase in tourist arrivals of 20-30%, providing consistent economic stimulus and creating decent work opportunities for local farmers and residents.
• Community Empowerment: By enabling farmers to generate income from tourism alongside agriculture, the model fosters economic resilience and reduces financial precarity.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production & SDG 2: Zero Hunger

Lam Son’s model promotes sustainable agricultural practices and connects consumers directly with food producers, fostering responsible consumption patterns.

• Sustainable Agriculture: The educational component of the tours informs visitors about sustainable farming methods required to cultivate crops in Khanh Hoa’s challenging climate, promoting awareness of food production systems.
• Reduced Food Miles: The “farm-to-table” experience, where tourists pick and consume fruit on-site, minimizes the carbon footprint associated with food transportation and supports local food security.
• Promotion of Local Produce: The focus on high-value local fruits such as durian, rambutan, and mangosteen supports regional agriculture and ensures the continued production of nutritious food.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities & SDG 15: Life on Land

The initiative strengthens community bonds and provides economic incentives for the preservation of terrestrial ecosystems.

• Community-Based Model: Collaborative efforts among gardens like Xuan Hung, Quang Lai, and Thao Nguyen exemplify a community-based approach that preserves local culture and heritage while driving sustainable development.
• Ecosystem Preservation: The economic success of ecotourism is directly linked to the health of the over 500 hectares of fruit trees, incentivizing the protection and sustainable management of the local landscape and its biodiversity.
• Infrastructure for Sustainability: Government support for improved roads and rest stops makes the community more accessible and resilient, enhancing its capacity for sustainable tourism.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure & SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

The integration of modern technology and collaborative governance are key to the model’s success.

• Digital Innovation: Farmers utilize digital platforms such as Facebook and Zalo to market their gardens, demonstrating the integration of modern technology into traditional agricultural enterprise.
• Public-Private Partnerships: The success of the model relies on the partnership between local farmers and government authorities, who provide essential infrastructure and support for expansion and the integration of high-tech agriculture.
• Collaborative Growth: Future plans involve establishing new tourism routes and forming collaborations with travel agencies, showcasing a multi-stakeholder approach to achieving sustainable development.

Analysis of the Garden Ecotourism Model

Key Attractions and Visitor Experience

The visitor experience in Lam Son is multifaceted, combining recreation, education, and culinary tourism.

1. Agricultural Immersion: Tourists can directly engage in fruit picking during the harvest season (July-August), offering an authentic connection to the region’s agricultural output.
2. Educational Opportunities: Garden owners provide insights into sustainable farming techniques, enriching the visitor experience with valuable knowledge about local agriculture.
3. Culinary Exploration: The offering of unique local dishes, such as chicken salad with mangosteen or rambutan, serves as a key attraction and promotes local gastronomy.
4. Well-Managed Facilities: Gardens are equipped with clear signage, Wi-Fi, and informational displays to ensure a comfortable and informative visit.

Tourism Metrics and Growth

The popularity of Lam Son’s ecotourism model is reflected in its strong visitor numbers.

• Daily Visitors (Peak Season): An average of 700 to 900 people per day.
• Weekend Visitors (Peak Season): Numbers can increase to as many as 2,000 people.
• Annual Growth Rate: Tourist arrivals have been increasing by 20-30% annually, indicating sustained and growing interest.

Strategic Development and Future Outlook

Government and Community Initiatives

Local authorities are actively fostering an environment conducive to sustainable tourism growth.

• Infrastructure Development: Continued investment in improving roads and visitor facilities is a key government priority.
• Agricultural Expansion: Plans are underway to expand fruit tree production and integrate high-technology agricultural practices to enhance productivity and sustainability.
• Strategic Promotion: The government is focused on promoting agriculture-based ecotourism to diversify the region’s tourism portfolio.

Future Projections

Lam Son is positioned to become a leading eco-tourism hub in Vietnam by focusing on diversification and strategic partnerships.

• Diversification of Offerings: The commune aims to expand its attractions to include traditional crafts, cultural performances, and a wider range of local foods.
• Strengthening Partnerships: The development of new tourism routes in collaboration with travel agencies is planned to solidify Lam Son’s market position.
• Long-Term Vision: By integrating agriculture, nature, and culture, Lam Son is creating a replicable model for sustainable tourism that provides economic benefits while preserving environmental and cultural assets, fully aligning with global sustainability targets.

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• The article focuses on agricultural development, specifically fruit farming and sustainable agricultural practices. It discusses increasing the value of agricultural products (durian, rambutan, mangosteen) and improving the livelihoods of farmers, which contributes to food security and sustainable agriculture. The mention of “sustainable agricultural practices that help crops thrive” and the economic success of the farmers connects directly to this goal.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• The eco-tourism model in Lam Son is presented as a significant driver of local economic growth. The article states, “The tourism model has provided a major boost to the local economy. Household income from fruit garden tourism has reached nearly 1 billion VND.” This highlights the creation of sustainable livelihoods and economic opportunities for the community, which is a core aspect of SDG 8.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• The role of infrastructure and technology is explicitly mentioned as a key factor in the success of Lam Son’s tourism. The article notes, “Infrastructure improvements, such as better roads and rest stops, have made the commune more accessible to tourists.” It also highlights the use of digital tools like Facebook and Zalo by farmers to promote their gardens, showing an integration of innovation.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The article describes a community-based tourism model that safeguards local cultural and natural heritage. It mentions that the commune aims to “diversify its tourism offerings by showcasing more of the local culture, including traditional crafts, foods, and agricultural techniques.” This approach helps create inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable human settlements.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• The focus on “eco-tourism,” “sustainable farming,” and educating visitors about these practices aligns with promoting sustainable consumption and production patterns. Visitors learn about “sustainable agricultural practices,” and the model itself is based on the sustainable use of natural resources (fruit orchards) for tourism, as opposed to more extractive forms of industry.

SDG 15: Life on Land

• The garden ecotourism model is inherently linked to the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems. The article describes how the commune, with “over 500 hectares of fruit trees,” is leveraging its natural landscape in a sustainable manner. This promotes the conservation and sustainable use of the land while providing economic benefits, directly supporting the aims of SDG 15.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

SDG 2: Zero Hunger

• Target 2.3: By 2030, double the agricultural productivity and incomes of small-scale food producers, in particular women, indigenous peoples, family farmers, pastoralists and fishers, including through secure and equal access to land, other productive resources and inputs, knowledge, financial services, markets and opportunities for value addition and non-farm employment.
  • The article provides direct evidence of increased income for small-scale farmers through tourism: “Household income from fruit garden tourism has reached nearly 1 billion VND.” This model provides an opportunity for “non-farm employment” (tourism services) directly linked to their primary farming activities.
• Target 2.4: By 2030, ensure sustainable food production systems and implement resilient agricultural practices that increase productivity and production, that help maintain ecosystems, that strengthen capacity for adaptation to climate change, extreme weather, drought, flooding and other disasters and that progressively improve land and soil quality.
  • The article mentions that visitors can learn about “sustainable agricultural practices that help crops thrive in Khanh Hoa’s dry, hot climate,” indicating the implementation of resilient farming techniques.

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

• Target 8.9: By 2030, devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
  • The entire initiative in Lam Son Commune is an example of this target. The article details how the “garden ecotourism model” has become a success, promoting local products (fruits, cuisine) and culture (“traditional crafts, foods, and agricultural techniques”) while creating economic benefits for farmers.

SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure

• Target 9.1: Develop quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure, including regional and transborder infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all.
  • The article explicitly states that “Infrastructure improvements, such as better roads and rest stops, have made the commune more accessible to tourists,” which is a direct implementation of this target to support the local tourism economy.

SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

• Target 12.b: Develop and implement tools to monitor sustainable development impacts for sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
  • The article itself acts as a report monitoring the impacts of this sustainable tourism model, detailing positive outcomes like increased income, visitor numbers, and community benefits. The government’s support and plans for expansion suggest an ongoing process of monitoring and development.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

1. Financial Indicators:
   • The article provides a specific monetary value to measure the economic impact on the local community: “Household income from fruit garden tourism has reached nearly 1 billion VND.” This serves as a direct indicator of increased prosperity for local farmers.
2. Tourism Growth Indicators:
   • Progress is measured through visitor numbers. The article states, “On average, between 700 and 900 people visit each day during peak season, with numbers reaching up to 2,000 on weekends.”
   • An annual growth rate is also provided as an indicator: “Each year, the commune experiences an increase in tourist arrivals by 20-30%.”
3. Agricultural Land Use Indicator:
   • The scale of the agricultural activity underpinning the tourism is quantified: “The commune, with over 500 hectares of fruit trees…” This indicates the extent of land dedicated to this sustainable model.
4. Infrastructure and Service Development Indicators (Qualitative):
   • The article implies progress through descriptions of infrastructure and service improvements, such as “better roads and rest stops” and the presence of “aesthetically designed entrance gates, clear signage, and essential amenities such as wifi, product displays, and informational boards.”
5. Technology Adoption Indicator (Qualitative):
   • The adoption of modern technology for promotion is an indicator of innovation: “many of Lam Son’s farmers have embraced digital tools to promote their gardens. Platforms like Facebook and Zalo are widely used…”

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators in Lam Son’s Eco-Tourism

Source: travelandtourworld.com