Localities work hard to welcome tourists back to Vietnam

Hanoi (VNA) - Tourism reopening is a "vital" requirement to change the face of the country's non-smoke industry, reaffirming the position of Vietnam's tourism in the post-COVID-19 period.

At a conference to launch the reopening of tourism activities themed “Live fully in Vietnam” in Quang Ninh on March 22, localities such as Quang Ninh, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City said they are ready to welcome tourists, especially foreigners, with methodical plans in order to re-affirm the position of Vietnam's tourism.

For the goal of “four-season wonder”

Nguyen Tuong Van, Chairman of the People's Committee of Quang Ninh province, said that the locality has actively implemented a large-scale vaccination campaign. With the rate of people over 12 years old getting the 3rd dose reaching 99%, the province is now ready for tourism reopening. It has over 70 lodging establishments with high safety and 1,467 safe ones.

According to him, Quang Ninh is likened to a miniature Vietnam, rich in tourism potential and landscapes, with more than 2,000 large and small islands. It boasts many famous tourist attractions on land and at sea, and serves as a gateway to trade with China. There are 632 landscapes and historical sites in the province. Ha Long Bay has been honored by UNESCO twice as World Natural Heritage (in 1994 and 2000). It was officially recognized by New7wonders as one of the new 7 natural wonders of the world on November 11, 2011.

Small islets in Quang Ninh are considered for exploitation (Photo: Vietnamplus)

“Safe and attractive Quang Ninh tourism is ready to welcome you back,” said Van.

Developing high-quality coastal city

With the policy of developing Da Nang into a high-quality coastal city, leaders of the local tourism industry affirm that the human factor comes first.

According to Nguyen Xuan Binh, Deputy Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism, in its plan to reopen tourism activities in the new period, the central city will focus on promoting and diversifying tourism products while ensuring COVID-19 prevention and control.

Golden Bridge on Ba Na Hills, Da Nang city (Photo: Vietnamplus)

Regarding upcoming activities, Binh said that on March 27, Da Nang will officially welcome the first international flights from Singapore and Bangkok, Thailand. There are many tourism promotion programmes and fairs planned for 2022.

He proposed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs soon promote the recognition of Vietnam's vaccine passports as well as launch more reasonable policies to open the doors to tourism.

For a sustainable tourism ecosystem

Tourism experts said that on the way to recovering the smokeless industry, it is necessary to understand the strengths of each locality to make the combined strength of regional linkage because each province or city has its own natural resources, tourism potential, and policies.

Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, Deputy Director of Ho Chi Minh City's Department of Tourism, said that the city believes a sustainable tourism ecosystem is not only product in a locality, as regional linkage means more tourism in more than 40 provinces and cities across the country.

In 2019-2020, Ho Chi Minh City expanded and upgraded the linkage from the department level to the provincial level with 13 localities in the Mekong Delta. northwestern provinces, and key areas in the central region.

Accordingly, the city’s tourism development motto is to develop a linked tourism ecosystem, she noted.

A double-decker bus in HCM City (Photo: VNA)

According to Hieu, the city determines that by 2030, it will link with surrounding provinces and cities so that they can share tourism resources to develop a common tourism ecosystem with more products.

The municipal Department of Tourism has identified four main tasks: promoting and exchanging tourism ecosystems with other localities in order to renew tourism programmes; exchanging information on the state management of tourism; offering regional linkage products; and focusing on human resources training.

“Ho Chi Minh City wishes to expand links with regions across the country to bring tourists to provinces and cities nationwide and welcome visitors from other localities to the city, thereby developing a stronger tourism ecosystem,” she said./.