The new approach of Cua Lo
To ensure the strict and effective implementation of the purchase and use of Party newspapers, in addition to requiring 100% of grassroots Party organizations, state agencies, and units to use Party newspapers as directed by the Politburo, Cua Lo town also issued a document on ordering and using Party newspapers at service and accommodation establishments to create a more civilized aspect of the coastal city while promoting tourism activities during the "peak" period from May to August.
(Baonghean)To ensure the strict and effective implementation of the purchase and use of Party newspapers, in addition to requiring 100% of grassroots Party organizations, state agencies, and units to use Party newspapers as directed by the Politburo, Cua Lo town also issued a document on ordering and using Party newspapers at service and accommodation establishments to create a more civilized aspect of the coastal city while promoting tourism activities during the "peak" period from May to August.
The aforementioned policy of the Cua Lo Town People's Committee is very appropriate and has been positively received by many restaurants and hotels. To date, nearly 60 restaurants and hotels have purchased and placed newspapers at their reception desks to serve tourists, including hotels such as: Saigon - Kim Lien, 3D, An Dong, Bien Nho, VAM; the Vocational Training and Employment Support Center for Farmers in the North-Central Region; the Center for the Care of War Veterans; Hoa Bien, Son Nga, Quang Yen restaurants, etc. The Vien Dong Hotel at 5 Sao Nam Street, Nghi Thu Ward, has three issues of Nghe An newspaper prominently displayed on the top shelf of its book and newspaper rack.
At 2 PM on May 27, 2013, while waiting for the receptionist to complete the room assignment procedures, a tourist enthusiastically picked up a copy of the Nghe An daily newspaper to read. He was Mr. Tran Xuan Truong, from the Thua Thien - Hue Wool Carpet Import-Export Company. He said: "I've heard Nghe An folk songs many times, but now, after reading the article: 'Folk Songs - The Soul of Nghe An,' I understand more about the character and soul of the people of Nghe An." He didn't forget to tell the receptionist to keep the newspapers for him to read the second part tomorrow… Ms. Thai Thi Hai, the hotel owner, said: "Since receiving the policy from the People's Committee of the town, we immediately started subscribing to the Nghe An newspaper and buying other newspapers as well. Guests are very interested in reading them; some even asked to borrow them to read in their rooms. Seeing guests' interest in reading the Nghe An newspaper for more information about tourism, we've subscribed to two more issues."
Tourists read newspapers at the Viễn Đông Hotel (Cửa Lò Town).
Visiting Son Nga restaurant (Hai Thanh block - Nghi Hai ward) on a weekend afternoon, owner Nguyen Ngoc Son pointed to the newspaper rack and said: “Customers have already borrowed all the newspapers. Yesterday, a customer even asked where to buy them to read and offered to take one because he was reading an article about ‘the land donation for road construction in Nghi Lam.’ It turned out he was the chairman of a commune facing difficulties in land clearance due to land issues.” Ms. Tran Thi Bich Lien, a geography teacher in Ha Dong district, Hanoi, said: “Besides vacationing in Cua Lo, we also want to buy local specialties. If we didn’t read the newspaper, how would we know that besides the seafood specialties, Nghe An also has lemons, peanuts, oranges, fermented bamboo shoots, soy sauce, eels… Besides visiting some places in President Ho Chi Minh’s hometown, we were also introduced to historical sites and scenic spots such as Cuong Temple, Corn Temple, Vo Liet communal house, and the tomb of King Mai Hac De… I realized how interesting it is to read Nghe An newspapers.”
At Quang Yen restaurant, we met a couple from Hanoi enjoying the breeze while waiting for their seafood specialties. Before coming to Cua Lo, they had asked their taxi driver to buy them three newspapers, including the Nghe An newspaper, to learn more about Nghe An province. Upon arriving at the restaurant and seeing the Nghe An newspaper on the shelves, and learning about the town's People's Committee's policy of encouraging tourists to learn more about Nghe An through the local Party newspaper, the 28-year-old man enthusiastically remarked: "In my opinion, this is the most effective form of promotion. Because if you don't understand the customs, current events, politics, socio-economics, habits, or the sentiments of the people of Nghe An, your vacation will be less enjoyable." Meanwhile, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai Ty, owner of Thien An Hotel (Block 5, Nghi Huong Ward), happily said: “We immediately supported this initiative because it is the right policy. Besides restaurant and hotel owners doing a good job of implementing the ‘5 no’s, the Party newspaper with its diverse information will make tourists feel that Nghe An is close, familiar, and easy to understand, just like their own home…”
Choose which newspapers to borrow to read in your room.
Mr. Doan Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, said: "The town's policy requires restaurants and hotels to subscribe to the Party newspaper and provide a price for it. This is a mandatory requirement and one of the criteria for evaluating service quality and ranking units in emulation campaigns. Besides providing official information on current events, economics, culture, and society of the province, it also promotes the tourism image of Cua Lo. It also reflects the beauty of culture and civility in tourism service businesses. Although this is only the first year of implementation and the reach is not yet widespread, nearly 60 units have responded, with the understanding that it is 'necessary and should be done.' This is a good starting point for this policy to become a regular practice every tourist season."
This is the first year of implementing the subscription and use of the Party newspaper for tourism purposes, so some hotels and restaurants haven't fully grasped the significance of this promotional method. Furthermore, the Department of Culture and some related agencies haven't communicated the town's policy in a timely manner, resulting in some businesses registering for civilized business practices not being enthusiastic about supporting it. However, with the impressive initial results, we believe that in the coming years, we will receive more support from businesses, and tourists will be more satisfied seeing Cua Lo as beautiful and civilized, thanks to the friendly restaurants and hotels, partly due to the daily appearance of the Nghe An newspaper at service and accommodation establishments.
Text and photos: Dam Phuong
