Link to create unique tourism products

(Baonghean) - After 4 years of implementing the 5-year plan (2011 - 2015), tourism has developed steadily with nearly 4 million overnight guests; tourism service revenue of over 2 trillion VND, reaching 100% of the target assigned by the 17th Provincial Party Congress. To achieve that result, the provincial tourism industry has had breakthrough solutions, the most prominent of which is the tourism linkage model, bringing attractive products to serve tourists.

Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Committee Dinh Thi Le Thanh visited the booth displaying and introducing tourism products of Cua Lo Town at the Tourism Promotion Conference in Khon Kaen Province (Thailand). Photo: Dao Tuan.

Increase connectivity

On September 21, in Khon Kaen province (Thailand), Nghe An Provincial People's Committee coordinated with Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Thailand National Administration of Tourism and Lao Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to organize the Conference on Promoting and advertising Vietnam - Laos - Thailand road and air tourism routes in 2015.

Comrade Dinh Thi Le Thanh, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, said: "Currently, the trend of the tourism industry is to expand the scope and increase the connectivity with the local regions and areas. Nghe An Tourism Industry is no exception to that trend. Building and exploiting the tourism route from Nghe An to Laos, Northeast Thailand and further in the region is a necessary direction, suitable to the context of the times and the geographical advantages of Nghe An".

In recent times, the Nghe An - Laos - Thailand tourist route has attracted 60,000 Thai and Lao tourists to Nghe An and nearly 100,000 tourists from Nghe An to Laos and Thailand. These are the initial results for us to continue to place our hopes on the potential of regional tourism linkages and pay attention to developing tourism according to this new trend.

To improve the efficiency of exploiting this tourist route, the Provincial People's Committee has coordinated with neighboring countries to organize a conference to promote and advertise the Vietnam - Laos - Thailand road and air tourism route in Khon Kaen. This conference continues the series of promotional activities about Nghe An and attracts the attention of many Thai and Lao tourism businesses on issues of state management, mechanisms, policies, investment attraction, environment, and operating conditions to participate in the Vietnamese tourism market.

Patuxay - a symbolic victory of Laos in the capital Vientiane. Photo: Dao Tuan.

Fireworks on the opening night of Cua Lo Beach Tourism Season. Photo: Sy Minh.

This is the second time since 2014 that Nghe An Provincial People's Committee has organized activities to promote and advertise road and air tourism routes from Vietnam to Laos, Thailand and vice versa. This has created an important premise for Nghe An to continue to promote cooperation in tourism development with countries in the East-West economic corridor, in which first of all, effectively exploiting the tourism market of Laos and the northeastern provinces of Thailand. Thereby, contributing to building the ASEAN community by the end of 2015.

Cua Lo Beach - an attractive tourist destination. Photo: Sy Minh.

Tourists visit Phi Phi island cluster in Phu Ket province (Thailand). Photo: Dao Tuan.

Rich tourism products

Mr. Nguyen Huu Bac, Director of TST Travel Company, said: The attraction of the Vinh - Vientiane - Udonthani tour is the harmony between the cultural beliefs of the three countries, if coming to Vinh - Lao and Thai tourists will visit Kim Lien relic site, Ho Chi Minh Square, swim at Cua Lo beach, explore Pu Mat National Park, offer incense at Hoang Muoi temple - a sacred temple in Nghe An. When coming to Laos, tourists will pray for luck and fortune at Me Si Muong pagoda - the most sacred pagoda in Vientiane, visit Thap Luong square - the symbol of the birth of Laos, the Victory Monument located on Lanxang Avenue; when going to Northeast Thailand, tourists cannot miss the Uncle Ho Memorial Site in Muong district - Udonthani province, admire Salakeoku Buddha Park - a unique architectural work, a combination of Hinduism and Buddhism...

UD Tower Entertainment Center (Udonthani - Thailand) serves tourists with music programs on weekends. Photo: Thanh Thuy.

Along with the Laos-Thailand connection, in recent times, our province has promoted the connection between provinces in the North Central region including 6 provinces along National Highway 1A stretching from Thanh Hoa to Thua Thien Hue to promote tourism activities. Thanks to this connection, the number of tourists to Nghe An in particular and the provinces in the North Central region in general is increasing.

The average growth rate in the period 2011 - 2015 was 6%/year, in which in 2014, the total number of visitors reached 3.55 million, equal to 106% compared to the same period in 2013. In 2015, the number of visitors was 3.60 - 3.65 million, achieving the target set by the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress, term XVII. Total revenue from tourism services was 2,500 billion VND, achieving the target set by the Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress, term XVII, with an average growth rate in the period 2011 - 2015 of 20.1%/year.

Lotus lake in Udonthani (Thailand). Photo: Thu Huong.

Sunflower season in Nghia Dan. Photo: Sy Minh.

Mr. Ta Khac Uyen, Director of Nghe An Tourism Joint Stock Company said: Thanks to this close connection, a number of new tours along the Vinh - Vientiane (Laos), Vinh - Lien Khuong (Lam Dong) air routes have been deployed. In the last 2 years of the term alone, our Company has brought tourists many rich tours in the province and in the region such as: Vinh - Da Nang - Hue - Quang Binh - Vinh; Vinh - Ho Chi Minh City - Rach Gia - Phu Quoc - Can Tho - My Tho - Vinh...

To serve domestic and foreign tourists with attractive products, the three most important destinations of Nghe An, Vinh - Nam Dan - Cua Lo, have signed a cooperation agreement to promote their advantages in the series of journeys to Nghe An in November 2013, creating a sustainable direction.

Evaluating this connection, Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, affirmed: Thanks to the close connection, the Vinh - Nam Dan - Cua Lo tourist route has exploited the existing tourism potential of the localities that we have not exploited effectively before, forming spiritual tours: Van Loc Temple (Cua Lo Town), Hong Son Temple, Su Nu Pagoda (Vinh City), Duc Son Pagoda, Vua Mai Temple (Nam Dan); or sightseeing and shopping in Vinh City, enjoying specialties in Cua Lo Town and offering incense to commemorate President Ho Chi Minh in Nam Dan... This connection is even more meaningful when starting from this year's tourist season, Nam Dan has brought Vi and Giam folk songs to serve tourists at Kim Lien relic site every Saturday and Sunday.

Souvenir stall at Kim Lien relic site (Nam Dan). Photo: Thanh Thuy.

To meet the travel needs of tourists, over the past term, many infrastructure investment projects serving tourism linkages have also been invested. In particular, the highlight is that in December 2013, our province officially opened the Vinh - Da Lat flight route. This is the first air route connecting Da Lat city, Lam Dong province with Vinh city, Nghe An province, contributing to creating convenience for people and tourists when traveling between the two regions of the Central and Central Highlands, especially Lam Dong province, where many Nghe An people live and work.

With a frequency of 3 round trips/week on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, flight time is 1 hour 30 minutes, Vinh - Da Lat route and vice versa will provide an additional 1,080 seats/week, meeting the travel needs of Lam Dong and Nghe An people, while connecting trade between 2 famous tourist destinations of the country.

This is also the 5th flight route of Nghe An province after the flights from Vinh to the provinces and cities: Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Buon Ma Thuot. Along with the joint opening of domestic flights, in January 2014, our province officially opened the Vinh - Vientiane flight route with a frequency of 4 flights/week.

Con Temple - Quynh Luu is one of the sacred historical relics of Nghe An. Photo: Thanh Thuy.

In the coming time, the province will focus on investing in perfecting key tourism products that Nghe An has strengths in. Exploiting existing tourism routes and gradually deploying new tourism routes, linking spiritual and cultural tourism with traditional festivals; Strengthening tourism promotion and expanding the tourist market. Building human resources to meet the immediate and long-term tourism development requirements. Promoting investment attraction to develop high-end coastal resorts, eco-tourism areas, entertainment areas, service facilities for tourists, means of transport for tourists...

Strive for the period 2016 - 2020: the number of guests staying: 5.0 - 5.5 million, achieving an average growth rate of 6.5 - 8.5%/year, of which international visitors reach 150,000, an average increase of 14.9%/year. Tourism service revenue by 2020 reaches 5,600 - 6,000 billion VND, an average increase of 17 - 19%/year.

Thanh Thuy - Dao Tuan