In hand in building and effectively exploiting Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Network.

After many years of construction and development, Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Network (GGN) is officially recognized, truly becomes an opportunity to shape, develop and further widely advertised tourism brand in Dak Nong.

New opportunity for tourism brand.

According to Ms. Le Thi Hong An, Deputy Director of Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Network (GGN) Management Board, The Accreditation of UNESCO Dak Nong Global Geopark Network (GGN) is greatly supporting in the building and development of Dak Nong Tourism brand.

UNESCO Experts visited the information center of GGN, Cu Jut District.

This is an opportunity to not only promote social-economic development, enhance people's livelihoods, but also contribute to environmental protection, nature conservation, rational use of resources, cultural, historical and traditional values of the nation preservation and promotion, potentials and strengths advantage, increasing investment attraction in key tourist areas, attracting domestic and international tourist.

In fact, since its accreditation up to now, DAK NONG UNESCO Global Geopark Network (GGN) have attracted the attention of the media, tourism business, domestic and foreign customers. This is also a step, which made a very important development opportunity of the provincial tourism industry.

There are still many changes

This is a new opportunity, but this is also a big challenge, requiring the whole political system from the provincial to grassroots levels to focus more on the construction and development of Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Network, to meet the expectation of province and commensurate with the size and nature of Global Geopark Network. In order to develop tourism, based on the potentials and unique advantages, Dak Nong Global Geopark Network need to take advantage of domestic and international support and cooperation, making Dak Nong become an attractive destination.

Joining the Global Geopark Network opens up to Dak Nong an new opportunity for tourism development.

However, since embarking on the construction of Global Geopark Network, the localities are quire indifferent and don't know the destinations in the Geopark under their management, there has not been a drastic participation in the management and construction investment, operation heritage sites in the area.

In total of 44 heritage sites, belonging to the 3 Global Geopark routes, there is a Gong showroom of Ma ethnic Minority, the Lithonphone showroom (Gia Nghia City) have been handed over but can't operate. Trinh Nu waterfall (Cu Jut) isn't opened to welcome guests, Petrified wood site (Gia Nghia City) has been leveled. Then, the entrance fee to caves C3, C4 is still collected by the enterprise. "Boundary of volcanic eruptions" Stop (Dak Mil) belongs to the private area, so the landowner is exploiting, it may disappear the part of the soil slope, which is containing traces of the volcanic phase boundary…

Need a long-term strategy

For Dak Nong Province, the building content of the Global Geopark Network is a new task and doesn't have much experience in building, developing, according to the criteria and orientations of UNESCO.

Therefore, besides the efforts of the province, really need the support and help from government, ministries, and central branches, especially the consultation, assistance from the consultants of UNESCO and Global Geopark Network. In particular, the construction and promotion of the title of Dak Nong UNESCO Global Geopark Network needs a large investment budget. While, Dak Nong is a young province, awareness of tourism and building Global Geopark Network associated with tourism development is still limited. So, it faces many difficulties. 

C3 row of UNESCO Dak Nong GLOBAL GEOPARK NETWORK

(photo: Dak Nong Geopark Management Board)

In the coming time, Dak Nong will continue to invite UNESCO experts to advise on building the overall development plan of the Dak Nong UNESCO Geopark to ensure the connection with sustainable development, maximizing the available values. In particular, the province focuses on strengthening investment in infrastructure, developing the system of partners, developing product systems and delivering heritage sites to localities for management and operation….

Speaking at the meeting of the Provincial party Standing Committee to hear the report on the situation of the UNESCO Dak Nong Global Geopark Network. Mr Le Dien, Party Central Committee members, Provincial party secretaries, the chairman of the Provincial People's Council emphasized: "the development and distribution of the implementation of UNESCO Dak Nong Global Geopark Network, must be based on the principle of the association between government with enterprises and population community. In which the Government plays a role of orientation, unanimous people, joining society, contributing to building and implementing effectively… All cirteria for building and developing of UNESCO DAK NONG Global Geopark Network must be associated Social Economic development of localities. In particular, the Resolution of the 12th Provincial Party Congress, for the 2020 – 2025 term, it is necessary to have the exploiting and developing content of the Geopark to ensure the strategic, comprehensive and sustainable".

Translation by Đ.H (baodaknong.org.vn)