Elevating Cua Lo beach tourism

Diversify tourism products

Cua Lo Beachis considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the North Central region, becoming a symbol of Nghe An tourism. Coming to Cua Lo, in addition to the beach stretching over 10 km with white sand sparkling under the golden sunlight, clear blue sea water, there are also many attractive destinations: Lan Chau Island, Hon Ngu, Van Loc Temple, Hom Market, Nghi Thuy fishing port, ...

Sea daisy is the typical flower of Cua Lo. This year, the town government has officially made this flower the tourism symbol of the most beautiful coastal city in the Central region. Photo: Duc Anh

Ms. Nguyen Lan Anh - a tourist from Hanoi shared: "Cua Lo is one of the ideal beaches. Moreover, the system of modern and synchronized hotels and restaurants, many seafood products are very fresh. Every year, my family and I return to Cua Lo to watch the sunrise, to recharge after months of stressful work".

Coming to Cua Lo, visitors can easily see the appearance of a dynamic, bustling coastal city with modern infrastructure, many motels and hotels, which can serve over 30,000 guests per day. Many high-class entertainment and resort services have been put into operation, such as: Vinpearl Cua Hoi Resort Paradise, Eco-tourism AreaLan Chau Island, Ngu Island, 18-hole golf course. And in the near future, Cua Lo will have a Cua Hoi amusement park and cable car with a cable car route across the sea connecting the mainland to Ngu Island - a special eco-tourism and spiritual destination in the middle of the ocean. Through the strategic coastal road with Cua Hoi bridge connecting the two banks of Lam River as a highlight, Cua Lo is also a convenient connection point with tourist destinations in the North Central provinces and the whole country.

Many tourists choose Cua Lo beach to cool off on summer days. Photo: Quang An

Mr. Hoang Thanh Son - Head of the Department of Culture - Information, People's Committee of Cua Lo town said: We are interested in building destinations, connecting into tours, building new check-in points, making places for tourists to visit and take souvenir photos to enhance the promotion of Cua Lo tourism image. In addition, the town focuses on renewing products and destinations such as: Visiting craft villages, fishing ports; developing conference and seminar tourism in the Fall - Winter, culinary night streets, "Cua Lo Autumn", street music programs for entertainment, sightseeing and organizing events at Vinpearl Tourist Area,Cua Hoi Bridge, Hot air balloon festival, lantern festival...

Not stopping there, travel agencies have also connected Cua Lo with nearby tourist destinations such as Uncle Ho's hometown, Thanh Chuong tea island, Truong Bon historical relic site, Dong Loc intersection, Muong Thanh Safari Land Dien Chau tourist area, Pu Mat National Park, etc. Expanding access to the MICE tourist market (conferences, seminars, etc.) thereby diversifying business types and tourism products, limiting seasonality and mainly accommodation business as at present.

Focus resources on infrastructure investment

Having planned to develop in the direction of urban tourism early on, Cua Lo is highly appreciated for its synchronous infrastructure planning. However, the slow investment progress, limited resources and lack of dynamic and breakthrough projects in recent times have caused difficulties for this locality.

Realizing that, the province and the town have had many solutions to accelerate infrastructure development and attract investment. Identifying tourism and services as key economic sectors, the town has completed and approved the functional zoning plans of wards; issued a number of projects and plans on support mechanisms in key areas and programs for sustainable development of the service sector, tourism, and urban civilization; applied science and technology in seafood exploitation, processing and clean agricultural production, creating products for tourism.

Binh Minh Street is being planned and will be expanded to the East this year. Photo: Thu Huyen

In particular, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution 06 dated August 13, 2021 on Regulations on a number of mechanisms,Special policies to support the development of Cua Lo townsocio-economic development in the period of 2021 - 2025. On that basis, the People's Council of the town issued Resolution No. 18 on the medium-term public investment plan from the State budget, in which, prioritizing resources for investment in infrastructure serving tourism and services. Currently, the town has implemented the planning for the period of 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, integrating the general planning of the province; The functional zoning plan of 7 wards has been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, serving as the basis for infrastructure construction, investment attraction, planning management... The town is also implementing the planning of the East side of Binh Minh Street, submitting to the Provincial People's Committee for approval to establish a funding plan for the planning with an area of ​​76 hectares as a complex park area, opening up bright prospects for the coastal city, contributing to raising the level of Cua Lo tourism.

To promote and encourage businesses and investors to boost the development of services and tourism, the town has created optimal conditions in terms of mechanisms and policies such as administrative procedures, compensation for site clearance, tax policies, etc. Therefore, the area has attracted many large projects such as Muong Thanh Cua Lo Hotel, Summer Hotel, Hotel Complex Project, Entertainment Area and Resort Villas of Vingroup Group in Cua Hoi... In addition, Cua Hoi Entertainment Area Project has carried out compensation for site clearance on the east side of Binh Minh Street in Nghi Hai and Nghi Hoa wards, handing over the site to investors on schedule as committed. This is a concrete demonstration of the town in creating mechanisms and policies for investors in the spirit of accompanying businesses.

Mr. Vo Van Hung - Vice Chairman of Cua Lo Town People's Committee

Along with attracting businesses, the town creates a healthy investment environment, and ensures the best security and safety for investors and businesses to develop production and business. This is both a requirement and a responsibility for the town's Party Committee and government. Every year, the town develops a plan to ensure security, order, and absolute safety for events, tour groups, and tourists. Currently, the town directs kiosks, hotels, business households, entertainment areas, and houses on town roads and wards to install security camera systems; with the town police force, ward police, residential groups, and self-management teams patrolling and closing off the area.

Cua Lo Beach is considered one of the most beautiful beaches in the North Central region, becoming a symbol of Nghe An tourism. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In 2020 and 2021, the pandemic has caused the tourism industry to collapse; many businesses have been operating at a standstill, even stopping operations. However, after opening up tourism and making efforts to improve the quality of destinations, Cua Lo has awakened and revived. The number of tourists coming here in the first 6 months of the year increased sharply, estimated at 1,260,000 arrivals, reaching 81.3% of the yearly plan, of which, the number of overnight guests reached 430,000 arrivals, reaching 83.3% of the yearly plan. Total tourism revenue was 1,280 billion VND, reaching 84.1% of the yearly plan.

Although there are still shortcomings, with the willingness to listen of the local government and the friendliness and hospitality of the people, we believe that Cua Lo will be one of the ideal destinations for domestic and foreign tourists.