Cua Lo focuses on stimulating tourism during the 'off-season'.
(Baonghean.vn) - From August to December each year, the number of tourists visiting Cua Lo coastal town decreases sharply… To stimulate tourism during this period, the town plans to organize many cultural and sports activities; and directs service businesses to implement discount and promotional programs.
"Getting involved" in a coordinated manner.
As autumn and winter approach each year, Cua Lo no longer experiences the vibrant atmosphere of festivals and crowds of tourists coming to swim and relax. The last four months of the year are considered the "off-season" for the area.tourismCua Lo in particular, and the same applies to 2023, faces the challenge of attracting tourists to the town. Solving this problem requires the concerted efforts of all levels of government, organizations, businesses, and the town's residents.
Currently, Cua Lo is proactively seeking to attract domestic tourists to participate in cultural and sports activities, conferences, seminars, and year-end summaries, as well as attracting tourists from other provinces for spiritual tourism to historical sites, temples, and pagodas during the end of 2023 and the beginning of Spring 2024. The town has directed establishments to announce promotional packages with discounted room rates, preferential food and beverage prices, and commitments to service quality; businesses with advantages in convenient location, spacious areas, large meeting rooms and banquet halls are offering discounts and promotions on MICE and conference packages, wedding receptions, etc., combined with beach resort tourism.
Mr. Pham Van Thuyen, Deputy Director in charge of business at Muong Thanh Grand Cua Lo Hotel, said: “Currently, the hotel is implementing promotional programs with discounts on rooms and meals; at the same time, we have policies to attract guests, especially employees of large corporations and companies during peak season when they do not have the opportunity to go on vacation… During the off-season, when the number of guests decreases, we take advantage of this time to train and improve the skills of our staff.”
Smaller accommodations also have their own ways to attract tourists. Ms. Nguyen Thi Loi, the owner of a hotel in Thu Thuy ward, shared: “The hotel has partnered with the Vietnam Tourist Vehicle Forum through social media platforms like Zalo and Facebook to promote and encourage tourists to visit the hotel. At the same time, the hotel offers a 30% discount on room rates and food and beverage services.”
Restaurants in Cua Lo are also running promotions and discounts on food and beverage services. They are also changing their summer menus – from steamed and boiled seafood dishes – to winter menus featuring grilled and hot pot seafood dishes. Mr. Dinh Truong Son, the owner of a restaurant in Nghi Thu ward, added: “The restaurant has also contacted agencies and businesses inside and outside the province to organize seminars and conferences with preferential programs, such as free rental of sound systems and conference halls, and discounts on food and other services to attract customers.”
In the first eight months of 2023, the total number of tourists visiting Cua Lo town reached 3,556,000, equivalent to 105% of the annual plan, of which 1,210,000 were overnight visitors, equivalent to 96.8% of the annual plan. Revenue from tourism and service activities reached 3,480 billion VND, achieving 98% of the annual plan… During this Autumn-Winter season, Cua Lo aims to welcome approximately 180,000 visitors, including about 25,000 overnight visitors, generating revenue of over 220 billion VND.
Strengthening efforts to attract investment.
On August 17, 2023, the People's Committee of Cua Lo town issued Plan No. 142/KH-UBND to stimulate tourism in Cua Lo during the low season of 2023. The purpose was to implement events combined with communication, promotion, and marketing activities highlighting the tourism potential and strengths of Cua Lo, associated with the message "Cua Lo - a safe, friendly, and hospitable destination".
According to the plan, the town will focus on completing the planning for the area east of Binh Minh Road, submitting it to the competent authorities for approval soon, and attracting investment; working with relevant parties to expedite construction progress and bring the Cua Hoi amusement park and cable car to Ngu Island into operation to serve tourists; strengthening the renovation and repair of existing check-in points and investing in the construction of new check-in points to serve tourism in the Autumn-Winter season in the areas of Binh Minh Square and the Binh Minh Square Forest Park; the Cua Hoi Bridge area; and Lan Chau Island.
The town also activated tourist attractions at historical and cultural sites, craft villages, fishing villages, and traditional festivals to exploit spiritual tourism, experiential tourism, and the exploration of the unique cultural characteristics of the people of the coastal region; it also activated food areas along the Lam River, night food areas on Mai Thuc Loan Street, night food areas (grilled food) west of Binh Minh Street (opposite 382 Guesthouse), and experiential food areas on the Cam River (Nghi Tan Ward)...
Specifically, the town will organize numerous cultural and sports activities, including: activities celebrating the 78th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day on September 2nd; celebrating the 29th anniversary of the establishment of Cua Lo town; organizing the Town Open Volleyball Tournament (late August); Folk Dance Competition (October 20th); 4-wheel electric vehicle driving competition (October); Student and youth dance group competition (November); national, provincial, and town-level sports competitions (from September to December 2023); the art program "Returning to the Land of Vi and Giam" (from September to December 2023); and the New Year 2024 art program…
Mr. Doan Tien Dung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, added: The People's Committee of Cua Lo town has assigned responsibilities to departments and units for organizing and implementing the plan to stimulate tourism in Cua Lo during the Autumn-Winter season; signed agreements on stimulus measures; promoted tourism in Cua Lo during the off-season; developed music festivals, cultural and sports events; renovated check-in points, lighting systems, and decorative lighting to serve tourism activities during the off-season; ensured environmental hygiene in the forest park, beaches, main roads, and areas where activities are held; arranged stalls selling local seafood products; and inspected price management during the Autumn-Winter tourism stimulus period to prevent unfair competition.
The People's Committee of the town also requested the Fatherland Front and other organizations to promote and encourage their members to actively participate in the town's annual Autumn-Winter tourism promotion and stimulus plan and programs, with the motto "each member is a tourism promoter." Restaurant and hotel owners are encouraged to sign agreements on cooperation, promotions, and price incentives, combined with improving service quality to stimulate and attract tourists during the Autumn-Winter season according to the town's plan; and to develop tourism packages with appropriate prices and quality. The Town Tourism Association is encouraged to promote and encourage accommodation establishments and businesses to actively participate in improving service quality and to sign commitments to develop promotional programs and offer fixed-price sales during the off-season.
Regarding the wards, they should develop specific plans to stimulate tourism during the off-season; proactively carry out effective propaganda and mobilization of the people, connect with craft villages, food and seafood production and business establishments... to create unique tourism products of Cua Lo, stimulate shopping and relaxation demand in the area; and build new, unique, and impressive check-in points to attract tourists.../.
