FIDR and the People’s Committee of Nam Giang District in Quang Nam Province, performed a final evaluation of the Catu Ethnic Minority Community Based Tourism (CBT) Project on 23-34 March, 2016.

In 2012, FIDR launched the project to support a self-sustaining tourism development of the Catu ethnic minority group of Nam Giang District in Central Vietnam. Over the past four years, Catu people and FIDR have promoted a Community-based Tourism, making full use of a unique tradition and culture of the Catu and abundant natural resource of the area.

Now established their own Tour Operation Unit, Catu people are prepared to receive the tourists and provide them with an opportunity to experience the beauty and uniqueness of the area, while having built a partnership with the travel agents and expanding a PR campaign.

A Final Evaluation of the project saw approximately eighty participants gathering from Hanoi and Da Nang City in central Vietnam where FIDR office is located, and the officers of Quang Nam Province. Guests from the national capital city included Government officials, a Former Deputy Director of Vietnam Museum of Ethnology, experts of regional development and resources, the travel agents, etc.

On the day, after overview, activities and results of the project were reported by the project staff in Nam Giang District, a Project Advisor Mr. Keiichiro Takadera shared the evaluation result.

He reported that more than 1,100 tourists from France, United States, Australia, Vietnam, and Japan etc. had visited the Catu villages and experienced their culture and daily life since the launch of the project.Gross income over four years had exceeded 4 million JPY (approx. 38,000 USD), displaying high level of economic efficiency of the project. Best of all, he stated, the CBT project introduced safeguard for traditional culture of the Catu, fostered unity among the locals, and restored vitalities to the local communities.

Although the small improvements should be added, the project proved more than expected, and was appraised of its high goal attainment level in general.