Catu Ethnic Minority Community Based Tourism Project

We have implemented an integrated community development project from 2001 to 2007 in Nam Giang district, Quang Nam province, which is in mountainous area in central Vietnam. “Catu Traditional Handicraft Assistance Project” derived from that integrated project has been implemented over four years from 2008 and promoted income generation of Catu ethnic group utilizing their traditional woven cloths. These projects brought not only local economic growth but also changes in enhancing a feeling of self-worth and self-confidence among the people.

Further, these projects became a momentum for government officers and local people who have been aspiring for industrialization to begin exploring a possibility of self-reliant tourism development (Community Based Tourism) utilizing abundant local resources such as unique Catu tradition, culture, and society and rich nature.

In today’s Vietnam, “Promotion of Tourism Industry” is recognized as a possible measure for poverty reduction and included in national development plan. Mountainous area in central Vietnam is paid more attention to as a new tourism site, and it is most important not to take the tourism development for commercial benefit, but with local initiatives, take it as a measure for sustainable development by ensuring both the improvement of people’s livelihood and the conservation of local resources.

We consider this project as the final assistance to Nam Giang district where we have been working for over 10 years, and we have conducted scrupulous survey and planning by inviting a Japanese expert.