Nghe An strives to create a favorable environment for tourism development.

Revitalizing tourism through improved service.

In the context of increasingly fierce competition as a tourist destination, tourism is no longer solely about natural resources or service infrastructure; the governance capacity of local authorities is also crucial.

The 2026 beach tourism season marks a significant shift for Cua Lo ward as the locality chooses to revitalize tourism not only through products but also through the way services are provided. The Party Committee and the government have clearly identified that the attractiveness of the destination today lies in the overall experience of tourists – from accessing information, using services, participating in recreational activities, to the ability to receive prompt assistance when problems arise.

From that perspective, the ward authorities put themselves in the position of tourists to design a comprehensive management method. Mr. Phung Duc Nhan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward, said: Entering the 2026 beach tourism season, the locality has issued 9 tourism management plans; each plan is linked to a specific responsible party, a clear processing time, and a unified inter-agency coordination mechanism, aiming at the common goal of building a professional, civilized, safe, and friendly tourism environment, gradually enhancing the Cua Lo beach tourism brand in the hearts of tourists.

Notably, the plans are detailed down to each operational stage. Tourism security forces are on duty 24/7 to promptly handle any arising situations. Accommodation management is tightened to standardize service quality; team building activities and tourism events are managed in a lively manner while still ensuring urban order and the aesthetic appeal of the beach.

Food safety during peak season is strictly enforced with clear standards and specific responsibilities for each business establishment. Separate management plans are also being developed for jet ski and electric vehicle services.

Alongside management efforts, Cua Lo focuses on creating direct amenities for tourists. Free Wi-Fi has been expanded in many public areas; hotlines are publicly displayed at accommodation establishments, tourist attractions, and service providers, including the phone numbers of ward leaders and the police force, to receive feedback from tourists. Digital channels such as the electronic information portal and social media are operated as a two-way interactive channel, allowing tourists to easily provide feedback and receive quick support.

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In handling situations related to tourists, Cua Lo uses the speed of response as a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of the government's operations, and considers tourist satisfaction as the most important measure.

Comrade Phung Duc Nhan - Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo Ward

According to Comrade Phung Duc Nhan: The overarching management principle is not to wait for reports through administrative procedures when incidents occur, but to organize immediate handling at the scene. The speed of response has become a criterion for evaluating the effectiveness of the government's operations, in line with the requirements of modern tourism management - where tourist satisfaction is the most important measure.

Currently, Cua Lo ward is collaborating with VNPT to build an Intelligent Operations Center (IOC), integrating tourism data, on-site reporting, and urban management on a digital platform. A digital tourism map, expected to be operational during the 2026 beach tourism season, will support tourists in searching for destinations and services, and submitting online feedback more conveniently. Cua Lo is also proactively participating in promoting and building its destination brand.

Collaborating with Vietravel to develop tour routes, organize squid-themed food festivals, and boost digital media communication; coordinating with Nghe An newspapers, radio, and television to promote the local image demonstrates a clear shift in the local government's management mindset, proactively participating in promoting and building destination brands.

Alongside serving tourists, Cua Lo strives to build a favorable administrative environment for businesses – a crucial factor in the efficient operation of the tourism industry. Mr. Hoang Thai Son, Director of the Public Administrative Service Center of Cua Lo Ward, stated: The locality is committed to resolving procedures according to regulations but as quickly as possible, ensuring that administrative procedures do not become a barrier to tourism activities.

Many procedures arising during the tourist season, such as obtaining permits for beach team building, organizing events, setting up vending machines, or establishing promotional check-in points, are processed as quickly as possible, within 1 to 3 days, or even within a single morning if conditions are met. Online procedures are fully digitized, with progress tracked hourly and specific responsibilities assigned to the relevant staff. As a result, there are no overdue tourist applications, and most are completed ahead of schedule.

As the person directly involved in the administrative procedures for licensing the installation of the automatic beverage vending machine system, Mr. Hoang Van Long - Director of Thien Phuc Thinh General Trading Co., Ltd., in My Thang block, Cua Lo ward, shared: "The ward leaders and relevant departments and agencies supported the business from surveying the location for the machines, connecting the electrical system to operate the machines, and completing the necessary procedures, so that our automatic beverage vending machine system could be operational before April 20, 2026."

In addition to reforming procedures, the Party Committee and local government of the ward also organized dialogues with tourism service businesses to promptly resolve difficulties. The signing of commitments to build a civilized, safe, transparent, and professional tourism environment was widely implemented, thereby linking the responsibility of each business establishment to the overall image of the destination.

Promoting digital transformation in tourism activities.

While Cua Lo has chosen a government-centric approach to serving tourists and businesses, in Quynh Mai ward and the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, digital transformation is becoming a "soft lever" to improve destination management quality, expand tourism experiences, and gradually form a smart tourism model.

In Quynh Mai ward, which boasts a nearly 7km long coastline and a system of spiritual relics rich in historical value, digital transformation is considered a crucial tool to bridge the gap between the government, businesses, and tourists. The locality has identified the simultaneous development of: beach tourism; service and culinary tourism; and spiritual tourism.

To realize these three tourism zones, Mr. Ho Ngoc Chung, a specialist from the Culture and Social Affairs Department of Quynh Mai ward, said: The locality is focusing on promoting the destination, creating multi-channel connections with tourists through Facebook fanpages and digital media. Tourism promotional videos are being produced and broadcast to create a new image for a pristine but potentially rich coastal area.

In particular, the locality has put into use an e-book introducing Cờn Temple, fully integrating the history of the relic, tour routes, festivals, characteristic products and tourism services of the locality. A QR code system has been installed at the inner and outer temples, restaurants, accommodation establishments and service points, allowing tourists to simply scan the code with their phones to find information.

Digital transformation is also being applied in Quynh Mai ward to the operation of tourism services. 100% of businesses are encouraged to implement cashless payments via QR codes, creating convenience for tourists. Electronic payments also contribute to the transparency of business operations, limiting price gouging or the 발생 of additional costs beyond the listed prices. Notably, all procedures for licensing tourism businesses are carried out through the online public service system. The government always emphasizes that procedures must be compliant with regulations but also fast, transparent, and provide maximum support to investors.

At the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, digital transformation simultaneously preserves heritage and innovates the visitor experience. Currently, the Kim Lien Historical Site has digitized over 10,000 files of documents, images, and artifacts, forming a "heritage bank" to serve long-term preservation, scientific research, and tourism activities. Digital technology is also directly integrated into the experiential spaces.

At the exhibition hall of the Sen Village historical site complex and the tomb of Mrs. Hoang Thi Loan, a system of touch screens combining virtual reality (VR 360 degrees) and augmented reality (AR) technology allows visitors to observe artifacts from multiple perspectives, choose flexible tour itineraries, and access information according to their individual needs. Automated explanations via QR codes and the "Kim Lien Historical Sites" app support multiple languages, locate tour routes, and interact with an AI-powered virtual assistant, making the experience more proactive.

Ms. Phan Thi Quy, Head of the Collection, Inventory, Preservation, and Exhibition Department of the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, stated: Technology helps elderly people, war invalids, and tourists with limited mobility to fully access the heritage values; it also supports tour guides in improving the quality of their explanations and reducing pressure during peak times. The implementation of the Loca AI intelligent translation system – an application of artificial intelligence that allows for voice recognition and language conversion in near real-time – opens up opportunities for easier access to international tourists. As a result, information is transmitted quickly, contributing to increased professionalism in service operations and gradually bringing the image of the Kim Lien Historical Site closer to international friends.

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The application of digital transformation in operations at the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site facilitates easy access for tourists to the full value of the heritage; at the same time, it supports tour guides in improving the quality of their explanations and reducing pressure during peak seasons.

Ms. Phan Thi Quy - Head of the Collection, Inventory, Preservation and Exhibition Department, Kim Lien Special National Historical Site

The experiential space is further expanded with virtual reality (VR), allowing viewers to "step into" the historical sites associated with President Ho Chi Minh's life across the country through a vivid 3D environment. The heritage is therefore no longer confined to physical space but spreads powerfully through the digital environment.

From Cua Lo and Quynh Mai to the Kim Lien National Special Historical Site, a clear trend emerges in Nghe An's tourism: administrative reform is shifting from a management mindset to a service-oriented mindset based on digital platforms. When the government becomes a partner, technology becomes a tool, and tourists become the center, tourism is no longer just a seasonal economic activity but is gradually forming a smart, professional, and sustainable tourism ecosystem.