Room bookings at Cua Lo skyrocketed during the hot air balloon festival.

July 15,Cua Lo TownThe first time to organize a hot air balloon festival. This is a new and unique tourism activity, extending the series of tourism stimulus activities in Cua Lo. This event has been known to many locals and tourists before and they come to the coastal city to experience it.

According to records, accommodation establishments in Cua Lo area all saw a surge in the number of tourists during the weekend. In particular, many hotels were "sold out" since the previous days.

The hot air balloon festival is a new tourist event in the coastal town of Cua Lo. Photo: Quang An

A representative of Summer Cua Lo Hotel said: Since the information about the hot air balloon festival, the number of guests contacting to book rooms has increased significantly, including many groups and families returning from other provinces. We have 2 facilities with nearly 600 rooms, but this weekend (July 15-17) there are no more available rooms.

It is known that hotels and motels along Binh Minh Street, near the Square area, where there is a beautiful view and you can see the whole area where the hot air balloon festival is taking place, are chosen by many tourists to book rooms and are currently "full". Accommodation facilities in other areas also have a significant increase in the number of guests.

Mr. Hoang Thanh Son - Head of the Department of Culture - Information of Cua Lo town said: "On the first day of the opening of the hot air balloon festival, nearly 20,000 people flocked to the coastal town of Cua Lo to visit, experience, and travel, an increase of about 50% of visitors compared to the previous days, many hotels and motels were "sold out". By this morning, July 16, nearly 300 tourists had experienced the feeling of seeing Cua Lo from a hot air balloon, the number will continue to increase because there are still many people in need, willing to wait to be able to experience it".

According to statistics, the entire Cua Lo Town currently has over 300 accommodation establishments with a total of over 11,000 rooms and 22,000 beds. It is known that in 2022, Cua Lo Town has built and expanded many more spacious and modern accommodation establishments to meet the needs of tourists. Room rental prices are publicly listed, suitable for tourists' choices.

Tens of thousands of tourists flock to the coastal town of Cua Lo during the tourist season. Photo: Quang An

Previously, the People's Committee of Cua Lo Town issued a Directive, requiring 100% of organizations and individuals doing tourism business in the town to publicly post prices of items: food, room rates and accompanying services. Absolutely do not take advantage of crowded times to increase prices. Any establishment that violates will be strictly handled according to regulations.

Through the discussion, Mr. Hoang Van Phuc - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Town said: "The hot air balloon festival is a new point in the series of tourism stimulus activities in Cua Lo and has created an impression in the hearts of people and tourists. The proof is the large number of visitors on the first opening day (July 15) and today, July 16. It is expected that during the 3 days of the festival, Cua Lo Town will welcome over 40,000 visitors and stay. Not only the hot air balloon festival, the flower lantern festival held tonight, July 16, is also one of the outstanding events to serve people when returning to the coastal city".

In the first 6 months of the year, when tourism recovered after the pandemic, Cua Lo welcomed nearly 1.3 million visitors (accounting for about 30% of the total number of visitors in the province), of which 430,000 were overnight guests, a high increase compared to previous years.