Factors that attract tourists

(Baonghean) - To attract tourists, investing in infrastructure and improving service quality have been the right directions for Nghe An province during the 2010-2015 term.

Vinh Airport has been upgraded to an international airport to meet the travel needs of domestic and international tourists visiting Nghe An.

Infrastructure investment

During the past term, many infrastructure investment projects serving socio-economic development related to tourism were invested in. A highlight was the official launch of the direct Vinh - Da Lat flight in December 2013. This was the first air route connecting Da Lat with Vinh City, contributing to convenience for residents and tourists. This was also the fifth flight route of Nghe An province, after routes from Vinh to Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, and Buon Ma Thuot. Along with the opening of domestic routes, in January 2014, the province officially launched the direct Vinh - Vientiane flight with a frequency of 4 flights per week.

This is the first international flight route operated from Vinh Airport. Along with the flight route, the Vinh - Nam Dan railway overpass on Route 46 was also inaugurated, contributing to shortening travel time between tourist destinations in the province and creating conditions for expanding cooperation and linkages with provinces nationwide and in the region. Several investment projects in tourist areas and destinations, such as the Lan Chau - Song Ngu high-end ecological resort and marine sports entertainment complex project, were launched with a total investment of nearly 1,900 billion VND, and the Lan Chau to Song Ngu Island inland waterway tourist route was inaugurated.

In a conversation with Mr. Tran Quoc Lam, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Song Ngu Son Company, it was learned that the project aims to exploit the potential and advantages of Cua Lo's coastal tourism, promote the development of infrastructure in the project area, attract domestic and international tourists to Cua Lo, boost the promotion of local scenic spots, create stable jobs for a segment of the local population, contribute to the state budget, and promote socio-economic development. After completion and commissioning, the project is expected to welcome approximately 1,000,000 - 1,500,000 tourists annually, with about 500,000 of them staying overnight. The effective operation of the "Lan Chau - Song Ngu Tourism Complex" project will bring many economic and social benefits, create jobs for thousands of local people, and help improve the short-lived "summer tourism" situation, extending Cua Lo's tourism activities year-round.

In addition, accommodation facilities have increased rapidly in number and quality. Between 2011 and 2014, the province saw the opening of 207 new hotels and guesthouses with 4,691 rooms, totaling 1,955 billion VND in investment. This brought the total number of accommodation facilities to 665 with 15,138 rooms, including one 5-star hotel, five 4-star hotels, twelve 3-star hotels, and over 60 1- and 2-star hotels. Notable examples include the 5-star Muong Thanh - Song Lam Hotel (Vinh City) and the 4-star Muong Thanh - Cua Lo Hotel.

Improve service quality

Over the years, local authorities have focused on and invested in training human resources and improving tourism knowledge for those working in the tourism industry. To retain tourists, one of the key strategies that Cua Lo has successfully implemented throughout the past term is the "5 No's" policy (no price gouging; no harassing or pestering tourists; no street vendors selling massage services; no environmental damage; and no disruption of public order and security).

Mr. Duong Cong Son, from Thu Thuy ward, Cua Lo town, who has 15 years of experience in the tourism service business, said: “Thanks to the ‘5 no’ policy, those working in tourism in the town are becoming more aware of building a brand for Cua Lo tourism. We have determined that every resident of Cua Lo must be a promoter and a guide for tourists, from serving and answering questions to introducing scenic spots and destinations when tourists need them…”.

Cua Lo Beach - an attractive destination

On the Vietnam Education online newspaper, reader Nguyen Hai Hung shared: “One place I make sure to visit almost every year for rest and relaxation is Cua Lo. The people here are very friendly and they are always ready to give directions and help tourists attentively and thoughtfully when asked. One factor that many tourists care about is the price and customer service of restaurants and hotels here. In Cua Lo, although during peak tourist season, the price of accommodation and some items increases, there is no price gouging. The shops along the beach also clearly display prices and sell at the correct price. The staff and shop owners are very open and friendly towards customers. Tourists can also freely buy fresh seafood from street vendors at the beachside stalls and have the restaurant prepare it for them to enjoy right there, for only a few tens of thousands of dong in service fees, with a very pleasant attitude.” Not only that, I also saw a lot of beach management staff here. They even came over to ask us if we had encountered any price gouging. That's something I rarely see anywhere else."

Along with local authorities, the restaurant and hotel system in the area is also actively involved in training its own staff. For example, the Saigon – Kim Lien Hotel has sent dozens of employees across almost all departments for training and retraining in just the last three years. According to Mr. Vo An Huy, Deputy Director of the hotel, tourism is a unique industry; if each department and each employee does not constantly update their professional knowledge and experience, they will certainly be rejected by tourists. In addition, the hotel regularly participates in competitions organized by the industry such as "Housekeeping, Table Service, Bar," "Excellent Tour Guide," "Excellent Chef," etc., which provide opportunities for departments to interact, improve their skills, and learn from colleagues.

Electric vehicle service for tourists in Cua Lo town. Photo: Sy Minh

To achieve the goal of making tourism a truly important economic sector of Nghe An province by 2020, with unique products and an attractive destination for domestic and international tourists, the province will focus on investing in and perfecting key tourism products in which Nghe An has strengths. It will exploit existing tourist routes and gradually develop new ones, linking cultural and spiritual tourism with traditional festivals; and strengthen tourism promotion and market expansion. It will also build a tourism workforce to meet the immediate and long-term development needs of tourism. Furthermore, it will promote investment in the development of high-end coastal resorts, eco-tourism areas, entertainment complexes, tourist service facilities, and transportation infrastructure, striving to attract 4,500-5,000 billion VND in investment for tourism product development. The target for the period 2016-2020 is to attract 5.0-5.5 million overnight visitors, achieving an average growth rate of 6.5-8.5% per year, including 150,000 international visitors, an average increase of 14.9% per year. Tourism service revenue is projected to reach 5,600-6,000 billion VND by 2020, with an average increase of 17-19% per year.

Thanh Thuy