Community-based tourism homestay model: a study in Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Since the development of homestays, the lives of people in the villages offering this service have significantly improved. Ethnic minorities have recognized the importance of their cultural heritage in the process of tourism development in their villages. Several new community-based tourism sites, such as Ta Van Chu (Bac Ha district), Cat Cat (Sa Pa town), and Cao Son (Muong Khuong district), have been established and proven effective. On average, the number of tourists visiting Lao Cai province exceeds one million each year. Besides generating income, the homestay model has created an environment for the revival and development of certain traditional crafts of ethnic minorities in Lao Cai. Many national and international organizations have helped localities in the province to "revitalize" some traditional industries. For example, Craft Link has supported the Dao ethnic people (Ta Phin commune) and the Mong ethnic people (Hoang Lien commune, Sa Pa town) in developing the Brocade Club, creating jobs for nearly 100 Mong and Dao women. The International Labour Organization, in collaboration with the Vietnam Institute for Rural Crafts Development, has supported the establishment of five pilot craft models serving tourism in Sa Pa, providing direct employment for over 100 ethnic minority households. Keywords: Homestay, Community-based tourism, Tourism.