Mang Den Eco-tourism Area: Ideal destination for tourists

On February 5, 2013, the Prime Minister signed Decision No. 298/QD-TTg approving the Planning for the construction of Mang Den eco-tourism area and the general planning of Kon Plong urban area, Kon Plong district to 2030. After more than 6 years of implementation, Mang Den National Eco-tourism Area has been developing day by day, meeting the needs of tourists from all over the world. 

Mr. Dang Thanh Nam - Chairman of Kon Plong District People's Committee said: Based on Decision No. 298/QD-TTg dated February 5, 2013 of the Prime Minister on approving the Planning for the construction of Mang Den eco-tourism area and the general planning of Kon Plong urban area, Kon Plong district to 2030, Kon Plong District People's Committee has coordinated with the provincial departments and agencies to review and establish zoning plans and detailed plans to submit to the Provincial People's Committee for approval. After reviewing the master plan of Kon Plong urban area, from 2013 to 2016, the Provincial People's Committee has successively approved 6 detailed planning projects for the construction of Kon Plong district town, the 4-sided areas of the town center, the commercial center and Dak Ke lake tourism area.

At the same time, the District People's Committee has promoted the organization and coordination of many cultural-tourism events in the area such as the annual Mang Den and Kon Plong Cultural - Tourism Week, the Central Highlands Folk Song Festival...; participated in many cultural-tourism activities in the province and some other localities to promote potential tourism products, strengths and cultural characteristics of the district; organized investment promotion for infrastructure in the Mang Den eco-tourism area; developed and promulgated regulations on the management of planning and overall architecture of Mang Den urban area...

A corner of Mang Den

In particular, the District People's Committee has implemented a synchronous mechanism of policies on investment attraction. In particular, a 10% tax incentive is applied for 15 years for newly established enterprises, a 20% tax incentive is applied throughout the operation period for cooperatives, a reduction of up to 70% and exemption of land use fees if investors are allocated land by the State, a reduction of up to 50% of land use fees and exemption of land use fees when changing the land use purpose in the approved planning.

Thanks to that, up to now, Mang Den National Ecotourism Area has attracted 93 registered investment projects with a total area of ​​5,757.5 hectares and a total registered investment capital of more than VND 19,603 billion. Of which, there are 22 ecotourism projects with a total area of ​​2,011.9 hectares and a total registered investment capital of VND 6,519 billion. Up to now, the District People's Committee has built 4 eco-tourism projects at Dak Ke Lake, Hoang Vu commercial-tourism area, Pa Sy waterfall, Dam Bri lake associated with 2 spiritual tourism projects, Khanh Lam Pagoda and Mang Den Virgin Mary Statue; 2 community tourism projects, Kon Pring Cultural-Community Tourism Village (Mang Den town) put into operation in 2018 and is investing in building Vi O Lak Cultural-Community Tourism Village (Po E commune).

The District People's Committee has also promoted synchronous investment in infrastructure projects, so the effectiveness of the operation of eco-tourism projects associated with spiritual tourism in Mang Den town has attracted tens of thousands of people to visit and relax each year, contributing to increasing revenue from tourism services for the district. Specifically, the number of tourists who know and visit Mang Den has increased gradually over the years; In 2013, there were 65,230 visitors, and by 2019, it is estimated to reach 195,000 visitors, nearly 3 times more.

Dak Ke Lake - a tourist attraction in Mang Den.

Implementing the "Project on Preserving and Promoting the Cultural Heritage of Gongs in Kon Tum Province, Phase 2016-2020", the District People's Committee has directed agencies and People's Committees of communes to step up propaganda and mobilize villagers to preserve and maintain the cultural space of gongs, not to trade or exchange. At the same time, gong teams have been established in 100% of villages and hamlets with the majority of young people participating. Of which, 3 gong teams have been maintained to regularly serve the promotion of tourism development, including: Kon Vong Kia I Village, Kon Pring Village (Mang Den Town) and Kon Chênh Village (Mang Canh Commune). Thanks to that, up to now, in villages, hamlets and households in the district, 495 sets of gongs have been preserved. In addition, the District People's Committee has also paid attention to the transmission of the intangible cultural heritage of gongs through forms such as father-to-son transmission and opening of teaching classes. Specifically, from 2012 to present, the District People's Committee has coordinated with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to open 3 classes to teach gong in Mang Canh commune and Mang Den town, with 90 students participating; at the same time, research and support funding for people to restore wedding ceremonies, buffalo barn building ceremonies of the Mo Nam people in Mang Canh commune and buffalo stabbing ceremonies of the Mo Nam people in Mang Den town.

Every year, the District People's Committee also organizes cultural and artistic activities such as: Ethnic Minority Cultural and Sports Festival, Gong Culture Festival, Street Festival, Spring travel experience during Lunar New Year, District Cultural and Tourism Week, Cultural and Artistic Performances..., contributing to creating conditions for ethnic minorities to learn, exchange, enhance understanding, promote good traditions and connect the community. Thereby, helping to promote, preserve and develop traditional cultural values, creating attractiveness and uniqueness for local tourism products.

Kon Pring village gong team performs by the flickering fire.

To effectively implement the province's driving force for tourism development, Chairman of the District People's Committee Dang Thanh Nam added: In the coming time, the District People's Committee will further strengthen propaganda to raise awareness of Party committees, authorities and all levels and sectors about the role of tourism development in the socio-economic development of the district. In addition, well implement tourism planning and state management functions according to the planning; plan routes and tourist destinations to serve tourism, at the same time fully prepare conditions and information to support investors and call for investment, exploit tourism associated with building a green-clean-beautiful-civilized eco-tourism urban area. 

In particular, the District People's Committee will synchronously implement propaganda solutions, guide people and business households to comply with State regulations in business, organize and arrange service and trading activities in a civilized, polite and orderly manner. At the same time, continue to carry out tourism promotion communication work in many rich, diverse and effective forms. In particular, pay attention to the combination between the State and enterprises in advertising and investment promotion activities; closely coordinate the promotion of Mang Den tourism image with activities and events organized inside and outside the province and the promotion carried out by tourists when coming to Mang Den...