It's a distinctive belief that was recognized as an intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO in Decemeber last year. That's why the city has made it a priority to promote it as a type of spiritual tourism to develop its tourism sector.
The "Rước Mẫu" (Mother Goddess Procession) Festival is the biggest festival of the year in Tuyen Quang. It has been celebrated since 2008 and is held from the 10th to the 16th of the second lunar month every year, and attracts many domestic and international visitors. The festival is also an occasion for the city to promote Mother Goddess worshipping.
Tuyen Quang has 14 temples. 12 of them are dedicated to the Mother Goddess. Because of this, the city aims to promote spiritual tourism and take advantage of its distinct worshipping style. It's also looking to promote its systems of temples, pagodas, landscapes and historical sites.
According to experts, Mother Goddess worshipping as a type of spiritual tourism can attract many visitors. However, it's seasonal and depends on the festivals. Therefore, there should be proper strategies in place.
In 2016, revenues from spiritual tourism of the city reached about 750,000 USD. According to Dr. Tran Huu Son, that figure can double this year if Mother Goddess worshipping is properly promoted as a type of tourism. This also can become a source of capital to restore relic sites and promote its tourism sector.
