Lan Ha Bay of Cat Ba island (Photo: VNA) Hai Phong (VNA) – The northern port city of Hai Phong welcomed 4.5 million tourist arrivals in the first seven months of this year, 19.9 percent higher than the figure recorded in same time last year, according to Director of the city’s Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Thuong Huyen.
At a meeting on July 31, Huyen noticed that the number still falls short of the city’s expectation as tourism is taken as a spearhead sector of Hai Phong’s economy. Most of the travellers flocked to Cat Ba tourism site, she added.
Secretary of the city’s Party Committee Le Van Thanh pointed his finger to the tourism sector’s shortcomings, including poor development of infrastructure, especially the shortage of five-star hotels and entertainment zones, short stay by tourists, and travellers’ low spending.
These are a result of a lack of tourism management regulations, and limited investment in tourism infrastructure, he said, adding that the business climate is not really good to encourage more investments in the sector.
Meanwhile, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Van Tung ordered the tourism department to enhance promotion and help airlines to open and increase domestic and international flights to and from Cat Bi International Airport in the city, prioritising routes to the Republic of Korea’s Busan.
It should work to improve the efficiency of tourism management, and join hands with the Department of Transport and Cat Hai district People’s Committee to issue temporary regulations on passenger vessels.-VNA
VNA
