With nearly 1,500 craft villages, Hanoi has potential to develop unique tourism products. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Hanoi (VNA) – The COVID-19 pandemic has prompted leaders of Hanoi’s tourism sector to change their awareness and mindset with breakthrough plans.
Coordination in building digital platforms
In an interview granted to the press, Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism, said the capital city has pioneered in digital transformation as it is an inevitable trend.
For tourism, digital transformation will help to boost the sector’s recovery and create breakthroughs, she said.
“We are likely to meet difficulties if we do not employ new methods and updated technologies,” the official warned.
Handicrafts create attractiveness for Hanoi villages. (Photo: VietnamPlus) Digital transformation plays a significant role in preparation for the return of international tourists, Giang said, adding that her department is coordinating with the Department of Information and Communications to build digital tourism platforms and tourism apps as well as digitalise tourist sites.
The coordination is expected to bring about new experiences to tourists and provide them with more information about products and tourist sites, while helping travel companies recover soon.
Giang expressed her hope that with the coordination of the Department of Information and Communications and the support of the media, the Department of Tourism would offer the best services to holiday-makers.
According to the official, local travel firms are now ready for digital transformation as they have also viewed it as an inevitable way, especially at a time when most of them are small and medium.
The tourism department has held working sessions on digital transformation with local travel firms. Those are members of travel associations will be the pioneers in digital transformation and followed by others.
Digitalisation will help the enterprises cut cost, promote products and services, and improve service quality, she said, pledging that her department will accompany them in joint efforts to build a green, clean, friendly and safe city.
“We hope to attract more tourists to Hanoi, and make them stay longer in the city,” Giang said.
New roadmap for Hanoi tourism
Hanoi is home to many relic sites, heritages and landscapes, including UNESCO-recognised ones, the official continued.
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced most of hotels in Hanoi’s Old Quarter to close. (Photo: VietnamPlus) She, however, pointed out limitations in the communication work and product development, saying districts and towns will partner in the time ahead to build tourism products with diverse services.
Giang highlighted foreign-language services, using Augoguide, that will be rolled out widely in the coming time.
Although Hanoi is home to nearly 1,500 craft villages, the city has yet to fully tap the potential to promote tourism through souvenirs, she said, suggesting improvements in packaging and product distribution to tourist sites.
“We will coordinate with craft villages, districts, tourist destinations and travel firms to create quality tourist sites,” the official said.
At the same time, she added, travel companies need to develop new tours and attractions. Duong Lam ancient village, for example, should be introduced with typical products.
Son Tay town has proposed building a pedestrian street and a nigh market in the ancient citadel area. If the plan is materialised, it would help to lure more visitors to Son Tay.
A range of new products will be introduced at the Hanoi Tourism and Culinary Festival, scheduled to take place in the area of Ly Thai To Monument and around Hoan Kiem Lake, from April 16-18, Giang said.
She also informed detailed plans for other festivals in the year once the pandemic is well controlled, saying efforts will be made to connect Hanoi with the northern provinces of Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh and Lao Cai provinces in tourism.
With such endeavours, Hanoi expects to welcome 10-11 million tourists, and make them stay longer in the city, Giang said./.
