Affirming Cua Lo tourism brand

(Baonghean) - Nghe An Newspaper reporter had an interview with comrade Doan Tien Dung - Deputy Secretary of the Town Party Committee, Chairman of the Town People's Committee about the goal that Cua Lo is aiming for "discipline and brand".

Reporter:With the advantage of tourism development, Cua Lo is gradually affirming its brand in the hearts of tourists. And 2015 was also the year that Cua Lo tourism achieved many expected results, right, comrade?

Comrade Doan Tien Dung:Located on the key tourist route Vinh - Nam Dan - Cua Lo, with a gateway to the East Sea through two ports Cua Lo and Cua Hoi, Cua Lo Town has the potential to develop services - tourism, seafood exploitation and processing... In 2014, Cua Lo was recognized by the Prime Minister as a coastal tourist city.

Panoramic view of Cua Lo town. Photo: Sy Minh

Coming to Cua Lo Town, tourists can freely choose the means of transport: waterway, railway, road, air, all very fast and convenient. Currently, the Town has 288 accommodation establishments with 8,500 rooms, enough to serve 190,000 guests/day and night. Every year, investment in tourism projects alone has reached billions of VND. In recent times, Cua Lo has left an impression on tourists with attractive tourist destinations such as Ngu Island, Mat Island, Song Ngu Pagoda, Mai Bang Temple, Nguyen Xi Temple... and culinary dishes made from seafood such as flash squid, grilled mackerel, clam porridge... creating a unique attraction for Cua Lo tourism.

As 2015 comes to an end, Cua Lo Town is excited about the positive and comprehensive results it has achieved: Successfully organizing the Congress of grassroots Party organizations and the 5th Congress of the Cua Lo Town Party Committee, term 2015 - 2020. Exceeding the targets and plans for 2015, a sharp increase compared to 2014. Of which, the economy increased by more than 11%, budget revenue reached 268 billion VND, an increase of 16%; average added value per capita reached 61 million VND. Well implementing the motto "Cua Lo tourism - discipline - brand". Compared to 2014, tourism revenue increased by 30.6%, reaching 2,260 billion VND; the number of visitors increased by 15.7% (reaching nearly 2.5 million).

State management of tourism has been strengthened, preventing price gouging, stalking, and soliciting of tourists. Security and order are ensured, tourism products are diversified, and many types of entertainment are put into use to serve tourists. Many important projects and works have been started and put into operation such as the 4-star Muong Thanh Cua Lo hotel; upgrading Binh Minh Street, Sao Nam Street; renovating the waterways of Cua Lo and Cua Hoi ports... products continue to affirm their brands such as Cua Hoi cuisine, grilled mackerel, Hai Giang 1 fish sauce...

Cua Lo beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the North.

Reporter:The results achieved in 2015 are an important premise for the Town to continue implementing the motto “disciplined and branded Cua Lo tourism” in 2016. To achieve that goal, what solutions has Cua Lo had, sir?

Comrade Doan Tien Dung:2016 is the first year of implementing the Resolution of the 5th Congress of the Party Committee of Cua Lo Town (term 2015 - 2020). With the consistent theme: Cua Lo Tourism: Discipline - Brand, building Cua Lo as an attractive, safe, friendly, hospitable destination, worthy of being the first coastal tourist city in the country.

Cua Lo continues to improve the quality of existing tourism products such as Beach and resort tourism; Tourism to visit cultural, historical and scenic sites; Sports tourism; Shopping and commercial tourism; Resort and health care tourism.... Focus on improving the quality of resorts and dining by assigning accommodation establishments to continue investing and upgrading facilities; managing and building many restaurants that meet standards to serve tourists. Improve the quality of fresh, dried, grilled seafood products and fish sauce. Maintain tours that are highly appreciated by tourists: Lan Chau Island - Ngu Island; Cua Lo - Uncle Ho's Hometown; Cua Lo - Vinh - Hung Nguyen; Cua Lo - Tien Dien (Nghi Xuan) ....

Focus on developing new products such as cultural and artistic tourism (enjoying folk songs and folk songs at the beach park). Develop more tours: Cua Lo - Vinh - Hung Nguyen - Nam Dan by high-speed boat along Lam River; Lan Chau Island - Mat Island. Focus on promoting and exploiting tourist sources in the province, especially tourists in industrial parks, factories, agencies, schools, etc.

Actively and proactively exploit traditional tourist sources in Hanoi and the Northern provinces. Approach and exploit potential tourist sources in the Southern provinces. Actively exploit the source of tourists returning to the roots of overseas Vietnamese and traditional international tourists: Laos, Thailand, China and ASEAN countries along the East-West corridor....

Expanding tourism space to the Southeast, especially developing potential resort and entertainment services in Nghi Huong ward and Lam River road. Handing over the land of Cua Hoi and Ngu Island tourist areas for Vingroup to invest in tourism exploitation items.

Lo Son Pagoda. Photo: Thanh Thuy.

To create an impression on tourists, the 2016 Cua Lo tourist season has many new, diverse and attractive activities such as the opening night of the 2016 Cua Lo River Festival on the evening of April 30 with the art program "Cua Lo Sea Singing" and the artistic fireworks display as one of the important highlights in the series of rich and attractive cultural - sports - entertainment activities that last throughout the entire tourist season.

In addition, there are many activities organized for the first time by the Town such as the Vietnam - Korea Cultural and Culinary Festival; the Song Ngu Love Song program; Buddhist festival; Vi and Giam folk song club activities; 2016 coastal beauty contest; Street music festival... promising to bring tourists colorful spiritual dishes when coming to Cua Lo coastal town.

Reporter:In economic development, tourism continues to be the spearhead economic sector, leading and accounting for the largest proportion. So can you clarify the orientation of tourism development in Cua Lo, which basic contents will be focused on?

Comrade Doan Tien Dung: TFirstly, planning, expanding development space, building infrastructure based on the location, potential, advantages of the town and being in connection with localities in the province, in the region, the country and internationally. The implementation of the Lan Chau - Ngu Island Ecotourism Complex Project (following the model of the Hon Ngoc Viet Project of Nha Trang which has been effectively exploited for 10 years) will bring Cua Lo Town out to sea to exploit the potential of Ngu Island, further to Mat Island to attract tourists and implement the marine strategy, effectively combining economic efficiency with national defense and security.

Strengthening connections with key tourist areas in the province such as Vinh, Nam Dan, Dien Chau, Con Cuong, Quy Chau ...; Vinh, Nghi Loc, Southeast Nghe An Economic Zone (located in the general planning of Vinh City construction to 2030, vision to 2050 and 1 of the 3 growth poles of the province). Connection through the transport infrastructure system that has been formed, relatively developed and synchronous (Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard, Provincial Road 535, Lam River Road, National Highway 46, Vinh Airport ...) will create conditions for Cua Lo Town to diversify tourism products, extend the length of stay of tourists and limit seasonality, extend the time of tourism exploitation during the year.

Hotels and motels in Cua Lo are mostly fully booked for April 30.

Second, restore, maintain and develop traditional occupations (fishing, aquaculture and seafood processing in Nghi Tan, Nghi Thuy and Nghi Hai), build and replicate new production models, following the environmentally friendly trend (growing green vegetables and fresh flowers in Nghi Thu, Nghi Huong and Nghi Hoa) to both create a source of products for tourism, create a green belt to protect the urban environment, and create jobs and income for the workforce not directly involved in tourism business activities.

Third, renovate historical, cultural and spiritual relics; restore traditional festivals and reconstruct unique rituals and customs of coastal areas, focusing on Van Loc Temple Festival; Song Ngu Pagoda Festival; Cau Ngu Festival...; organize community activities on sea culture weeks, sea markets... in the direction of socialization and linking these types of tourism with resort tourism.

Cua Lo seafood market.

Fourth, focus on training to develop human resources, especially in the tourism business sector, through good career guidance at high schools and colleges and universities in the area.

Fifth, focus on attracting all resources for development through strongly improving the investment and business environment, promoting administrative reform, rectifying public ethics, and handling administrative procedures quickly, conveniently, and in accordance with regulations for investors, businesses, and people. Do a good job of state management of tourism. Continue to maintain and promote the culture of friendly behavior towards tourists.

With this approach, we believe that Cua Lo coastal city will increasingly develop green - clean - beautiful, civilized, modern, friendly and hospitable!

Reporter:Thank you very much for this exchange./.

Thanh Thuy

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