A corner of Thang Long Imperial Citadel complex in Hanoi (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Experts and businesses contributedvarious measures and solutions for the tourism sector of Hanoi to design tourism products to lure more visitors during a conference in the capitalcity on March 18.
Yet to receive foreign visitors due toCOVID-19 impacts, the city is focusing on encouraging local residents to explorevarious destinations in the city such as high-end hotels, ancient architectureworks, eco-tourism sites, trade villages and ancient villages.
Nguyen Le Huong, Deputy General Director of Vietravel heldthat in the current situation, the tourism sector should pay greater attentionto the programme to encourage Vietnamese to travel Vietnam, and Hanoians totour Hanoi.
She said the tourism potential of the capital city remains under-exploited, such as the beauty of outskirtdistricts and trade villages.
Agreeing with Huong, Truong Quoc Hung, President of the HanoiUNESCO Travel Club said that the area of Ba Vi and Soc Son boast greatpotential for ecotourism as well as cultural, resort and sport tourism, whichis suitable to families and groups of tourists. The city should also exploitits strength in spiritual tourism as well, he said.
Many experts asserted that Hanoi has yet to optimise its richcultural tradition, advising the city to design more new, unique and typicaltourism products of this type.
Phung Quang Thang, Director of Hanoi Tourist and President of the Hanoi TravelAssociation said that travel businesses should review and restructure theirproducts to create more attractive tours.
Thang said that the firms should work more closely with local authorisedagencies to focus on developing night tourism, citing statistics showing that70 percent of people engaging in night tourism activities enjoy food, 20percent often drink and 10 percent engage in entertainment activities. In his opinion, with its advantages in night tourism such as the two pedestrian areas of the OldQuarter around Hoan Kiem Lake and Trinh Cong Son Street near West Lake, Hanoi’sculinary tourism will help travel firms thrive.
Meanwhile, Chu Ngoc Quan, Vice Director of the Ba ViNational Park said that in February alone, the site saw a 170 percent rise yearon year in the number of visitors. The park and nearby Suoi Hai lake can become a great cultural tourism site, hesaid.
Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism Dang Huong Giangshowed the hope that travel firms will foster connectivity to design attractivetourism products with high quality.
The department has hired a communication consultant agency tohelp with tourism promotion in different markets, she said, adding that thecity plans to organise large-scale events to attract more visitors.
For this year, the Tourism Department decided to concentrate resources on promoting the domestic tourism market and will prepare to welcome international arrivals when conditions allow.
According to the department director, it has compiled three growth scenarios for the sector. One projects an early recovery that allows Hanoi to welcome 15.34 million domestic visitors, double the figure in 2020. An early recovery would mean the normal operation of services and accommodation facilities, with average occupancy exceeding 45 percent.
The sector has also set out an overall target of catering to between 13.16 and 19.4 million tourists, including 10.96 - 15.34 million domestic visitors.
Products to be launched to stimulate domestic tourism will cover key destinations in the capital such as the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long, Hoa Lo Prison, Duong Lam ancient village, and Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam (the Temple of Literature).
The development of culinary, nightlife, and extreme sports tours are also a focus.
Meanwhile, a series of promotional events are scheduled to take place before, during, and after the 31st Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 31) hosted by Vietnam later this year. The event will take place from November 21 to December 2 in Hanoi and 11 neighbouring cities and provinces, including Bac Ninh, Hai Duong, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ha Nam, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Hoa Binh, Vinh Phuc, Phu Tho, and Bac Giang./.
