PV:Could you tell us what the tourism development goals of Cua Lo town are in 2023?
Mr. Doan Tien Dung:2023 is the third year of implementing the 5-year socio-economic development plan for the town for the period 2020 - 2025; the sixth year of implementing Resolution No. 08/NQ/TW dated January 16, 2017 of the Politburo on developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector. With the available advantages and potentials of a tourist city after 29 years of construction and development, Cua Lo town continues to affirm certain competitive advantages.
Some high-quality services will be put into operation, cultural, sports and tourism events of national significance will be organized, and tourism infrastructure will be invested. In particular, the kiosk system on the east side of Binh Minh Street will be cleared and the beach will be rebuilt along with strengthening state management in all fields. In 2023, the town strives to welcome 3.4 million visitors, an increase of 11% compared to 2022. Of which, there will be 1.25 million overnight guests, an increase of 12% compared to 2022. International visitors will reach 2,500. Tourism service revenue will reach VND 3,550 billion, an increase of 11% compared to 2022. Appraisal and recognition of 4-5 tourist accommodation establishments meeting 2-5 star standards.
PV:To achieve that goal, in 2023, what differences will Cua Lo tourism have compared to 2022, sir?
Mr. Doan Tien Dung:Tourism in 2023 will certainly be very different from 2022. The first impression when visitors return to Cua Lo this year is that they will feel a more open and fresh space, because the entire beach has been restored, there are no longer kiosks blocking the view of the sea. Along with that, all agencies, offices, parks, etc. are covered with brilliant yellow sea daisies - the flower symbolizing Cua Lo tourism. The main roads into the town center such as Binh Minh Street, Sao Nam Street, Road No. 10 and inner-city roads are expanded, green - clean - beautiful.
The LED lighting system and decorative lights on main roads have been renovated; electronic gates have been repaired and upgraded, the lighting system of inner-city roads has been replaced, and the decorative electrical system of Binh Minh Square and the Sea Daisy Park has been repaired and invested in. All kiosks are planned to be moved to a new location on the west side of Binh Minh Street, expanding the tourism space to the South, especially developing culinary services along Lam River... Cua Lo Town is truly wearing a new coat, a coat that will certainly be more beautiful and brilliant to welcome the 2023 tourism year.
Coming to Cua Lo this year, visitors will experience many unique and diverse tourism products such as building tourist destinations, check-in points in parks, squares, beaches, ... there are also tours, shopping at fish sauce processing villages, experiencing grilled fish and enjoying seafood products in fishing villages, traditional craft villages that have existed for hundreds of years in Cua Lo. State management of tourism is tightened, especially the work of ensuring security, order, social safety, food hygiene and safety, managing the activities of 4-wheel electric vehicles, jet skis, and street vendors.
To give tourists more choices, this year, Cua Lo has proactively coordinated with travel companies to connect and build tours of Cua Lo with neighboring tourist destinations such as Kim Lien, Uncle Ho's hometown, Thanh Chuong tea island, Truong Bon relic site, Dong Loc crossroads, Muong Thanh Safiland Dien Chau tourist area, Pu Mat National Forest... Expanding access to the MICE tourist market (Conferences, Seminars...) thereby diversifying types of tourism businesses and tourism products, limiting seasonality and mainly accommodation business as at present.
PV:After opening the tourism year on the evening of April 14, 2023, up to now, what results has Cua Lo achieved, sir?
Mr. Doan Tien Dung:It can be affirmed that the opening ceremony of Cua Lo tourism with the theme "Cua Lo - Colors of the sea" on the evening of April 14 was a great success, leaving a deep impression in the hearts of visitors about a modern, dynamic Cua Lo but still retaining the ancient features of a coastal fishing village.
The opening ceremony is an important highlight to kick off a brilliant tourism year with many activities lasting until the end of the year such as: Culinary competition (Master Chef), Hot air balloon festival, lantern festival, street food and music festival, program about the region of Vi Giam... and many sports activities, exchanges, seminars, conferences... Cua Lo with busy days, bustling with visitors coming and going. All hotels and motels operate at full capacity, on weekends they are full.
PV:With the attention of the Central Government and the province, and the strong direction of the town in many breakthroughs to build Cua Lo more and more beautiful, greener, especially with more systematic planning. In the coming time, how will Cua Lo turn the dream of 4-season tourism into reality, sir?
Mr. Doan Tien Dung:116 years ago, in 1907, Cua Lo was identified as a resort area of Indochina. The World Tourism Organization once rated Cua Lo as one of the places with the most beautiful beaches in Vietnam. Cua Lo was also recognized by the Prime Minister as a "Sea Tourism City" since 2014.
Currently, Cua Lo has many advantages in terms of transportation such as the National Strategic Coastal Road, Cua Hoi Bridge across Lam River connecting Nghe An and Ha Tinh, Vingroup's resort and entertainment area, Hanoi - Vinh - Bai Vot Expressway; Nghi Son - Cua Lo coastal road, Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard... However, Cua Lo also faces many difficulties and challenges when neighboring beaches such as Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh are developing very well. Or further away like Da Nang, Nha Trang... are hot search addresses on the sea tourism map of domestic and international tourists.
Faced with that situation, Cua Lo town determined to take advantage of opportunities, promote potentials and strengths to develop the town to its full potential. That is to focus on improving service quality, creating a unique identity in terms of culture, tourism, and people of Cua Lo - only then will tourists love, remember, and return. Along with beach tourism, Cua Lo focuses on developing diverse, attractive, unique, and highly competitive tourism products associated with synchronous, safe, and professional infrastructure investment to attract tourists with many new choices, shorten winter break, and develop 4-season tourism.
Developing commodity agriculture, clean agriculture, craft villages, and small-scale industries with good quality products to serve the needs of tourists when they come to the coastal city of Cua Lo. Continuing to accelerate the completion of investment projects in the area, attracting a number of new projects with advantages and less environmental impact. Being more active and spreading more strongly in building civilized urban areas and model residential areas.
In particular, as mentioned, in 2022, Cua Lo has drastically changed with a revolution, which is to clear 209 kiosks, re-plan the East side of Binh Minh Street, returning to Cua Lo beach all its inherent beauty and most recently, Cua Lo has issued Document No. 580/UBND - DT on collecting opinions from people and key officials for the detailed construction planning project at a scale of 1/500 of the park area east of Binh Minh Street. The park area belongs to 4 localities: Nghi Thu, Nghi Hoa, Thu Thuy and Nghi Huong, stretching about 4.4 km along the coastline. After planning, this place will become a coastal park area, a beach area, sea tourism services, entertainment, recreation, cuisine... will be invested in and completely built to serve the needs of domestic, provincial and international tourists.
We believe that, after all those breakthroughs, Cua Lo coastal town will "take off" and develop to become a civilized and modern coastal tourist city.
PV: Thank you!
