To realize the goal of welcoming and serving over 7 million tourists, making total revenue of about VND10 trillion by 2030 and becoming an attractive ecotourism destination, the tourism sector of Bac Ninh province has kept carrying out many practical solutions like diversifying tourism products and services. To find out more information, our reporter has an exclusive interview with Mr. Tran Quang Nam, Director of the Bac Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Nguyet Tham reports.
Could you please briefly introduce the outstanding tourism achievements of Bac Ninh province in the past term?
Over the past five years, the tourism industry contributed substantially to local socioeconomic development. The tourism business performance grew well and stably. Tourist arrivals and revenue in the 2016-2020 period tripled those in the 2011-2015 period. In 2019, some 1.6 million tourists came to Bac Ninh and tourism revenue totaled approximately VND1.1 trillion, compared to 576,000 visitor arrivals and VND382 billion of revenue in 2015. Tourist facilities developed rapidly. Many well-reputed corporations came to build 5-star hotels, such as Muong Thanh Hotel, Le Indochina Hotel, Grand Phoenix Hotel, Phoenix Resort and Vincom Bac Ninh Trade Center, giving a facelift to the urban landscape of Bac Ninh province.
Through a series of cultural and tourism events, the image of “Cultured - Dynamic - Prosperous” Bac Ninh spread to domestic and international friends. Bac Ninh cultural heritages are known as a bright spot for conservation and value promotion.
The tourism industry has suffered serious losses from the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak. What specific plans and products is the tourism sector giving development priority to boost recovery and expansion?
To make an effective recovery and development after the COVID-19 epidemic outbreak, the sector first of all focused on preventing epidemic contagion, keeping the image of “safe, impressive and attractive” destination for Bac Ninh; assisting businesses to maintain operations and develop products; expanding accommodation establishments as paid quarantine locations for experts and workers coming from epidemic areas; and carrying out government support policies for tourism businesses. For their parts, businesses strived to deepen training of their employees to enhance service quality, conduct research and development of new unique and different products to woo tourists, especially stimulus packages targeting domestic tourists.
At the same time, the sector concentrated on completing and upgrading 14 tourist sites recognized by the Provincial People's Committee to increase appeal to tourists. It supported managers of 14 tourist sites to work out the “One destination one product” program to have new products to meet tourist needs of discovery and experience in Bac Ninh; holding regular quan ho singing on the boat during weekends to serve tourists; coordinated with top reputable tourism brands to inform and promote the tourism culture; organized tourism promotion in Asian cities; boosted cooperation with key tourist provinces and cities in the north like Quang Ninh, Hai Phong and Hanoi; and effectively carried out tourism demand stimulus programs launched by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT).
To fulfil the goal of having over 7 million tourists and making total revenue of about VND10 trillion by 2030 and becoming an attractive ecotourism destination, what breakthrough solutions will the sector advise the provincial government to focus on?
In the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will focus on directing implementation of the following priority solutions and tasks:
First, research and advice on tourism development mechanisms and policies, including mechanisms to encourage tourism community development in quan ho singing villages, handicraft villages and the countryside
Second, advise the province to prioritize the development and upgrade of transport infrastructure in cultural tourist spots such as the dyke for Dong Ho Picture - Kinh Duong Vuong Tomb - But Thap Pagoda tourist route; the dyke for Thien Thai - Le Chi Vien - Dai Bi Pagoda - Cao Lo Vuong Temple - Tam Phu Temple tourist route; and roads to Dam Pagoda and wharves leading to key tourist areas.
Third, diversify tourism products and services; effectively implement internal and external tourism development cooperation programs, cultural and diplomatic cooperation programs with localities in South Korea, Japan and China; mobilize available resources and facilitate all economic sectors to join tourism product development.
Fourth, renovate and strengthen tourism promotion; carry out long-term and annual tourism promotion strategies and programs; and introduce local magnetic contents to tourists
In addition, apply science and technology to tourism promotion and development; establish official Zalo and Facebook channels for Bac Ninh culture and tourism, or apply GIS technology to complete the cultural and tourism database system; apply information technology and digital technology to serve cultural, sports and tourism management and development.
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
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