Efforts to build Cua Lo tourism brand

(Baonghean) - In recent years, Cua Lo town has gradually built and affirmed its brand as an attractive tourist destination for domestic and foreign tourists. Revenue from tourism services in the first 7 months of 2015 reached nearly 2,000 billion VND.

Every year, during the summer vacation, Ms. Trinh Thanh Huan's family in Hung Yen goes to Cua Lo for vacation. Ms. Huan said: "Although there are no resorts and few luxury hotels here, the service is still in the developing period, many tourists, including us, still come here to relax because the beach here is very beautiful, the water is clear blue; the people who provide services are simple and gentle, and compared to other tourist destinations, the prices here are cheaper, the service is good...".

Tourists from all over the world come here to fully enjoy the favors of nature and enjoy the delicious dishes of the coastal people. In recent years, the number of tourists coming to Cua Lo has increased day by day, the revenue of each year is higher than the previous year. In 5 years (2010 - 2015), the number of tourists increased by an average of 6% per year, from 1.85 million to 2.43 million; revenue increased by an average of 20% per year. If in 2014, the number of visitors reached 2 million 250 thousand visitors, revenue from service and tourism activities reached 1,730 billion VND, then in the first 7 months of 2015 the number of visitors to Cua Lo is estimated to reach 2,350 thousand visitors, reaching 97% of the yearly plan, an increase of 5.4% over the same period. Of which, the number of guests staying reached 1,259 thousand, up 5.2%, revenue from tourism activities reached 1,998 billion VND, up 8.6% over the same period.

Luong Hung Restaurant was recognized as a civilized restaurant in 2015.

Currently, the infrastructure serving tourism services in the area is increasingly invested and upgraded. Up to now, the town has 275 accommodation establishments with nearly 8,000 rooms and over 16,000 beds, enough to serve 170,000 - 180,000 guests/day and night. The labor force participating in the tourism industry increased from 6,237 people in 2010 to 7,600 people in 2015. The Cua Lo tourism brand is also preserved and promoted.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hong Tuoi, in charge of Green Hotel's accommodation department, said: "We feel that the number of visitors to Cua Lo is increasing. Especially in June, the number of guests staying at the hotel increased dramatically, with room occupancy reaching 100%." ​​Ms. Cao Thi Luong, owner of Luong Hung restaurant, which was recently recognized by the town as a "civilized restaurant" in 2015, shared: "I am not from Cua Lo but have been attached to the coastal city for nearly 20 years. At first, I was in the game business but later switched to restaurant services. With the town's attention, my family bid for a kiosk, built a solid and spacious structure in 2008 and since then, the restaurant's business has been very favorable. In addition to tourists from the Northern provinces, we have a number of regular customers from the districts of Do Luong, Nam Dan, Hung Nguyen, etc. To attract customers, we always pay attention to the price issue, even during the overloaded time, we try to "keep the price" to please the customers coming and satisfying the customers going. Being recognized as a civilized restaurant is an opportunity for us to continue to develop our business and services."

In recent years, tourism and tourist transportation activities have been closely linked and operated effectively. Currently, Cua Lo has linked with 65 travel agencies to introduce and welcome hundreds of tourist groups for vacation; the town has also established many tours and routes to serve tourists such as: Cua Lo - Ngu Island, Cua Lo - Vinh - Kim Lien relic site, Cua Lo - Vinh - Cau Treo border gate - Lac Xao (Laos), Cua Lo - Vinh - Phuket and Udon Thani (Thailand) ... Tourism service and product business activities have many positive changes, food and accommodation services have increased. Potential tourist areas in Nghi Thuy, Nam Cam street, south of Binh Minh Square, Cua Hoi tourist area, Lam riverside road have developed strongly. Entertainment services, postal services, telecommunications, banks, supermarkets, markets and food, medical services, electronics, tourist transportation, insurance operate safely and ensure consumer rights. Some products serving tourists continue to affirm their brands and have the ability to reach the markets of other provinces, such as: Cua Lo and Cua Hoi fish sauce, dried and fresh seafood, etc. Currently, in the town, various types of services are gradually being firmly established, such as: Beach tourism, resorts, sports, and eco-tourism.

Along with that, in recent years, Cua Lo Town has been quite successful with the policy of building civilized restaurants. Starting from 2013, up to now, the town has built more than 30 civilized restaurant business models to replicate, contributing to enhancing the tourism brand. Mr. Vo Van Tho, Head of the Department of Culture and Tourism, Town People's Committee said: "This year, all organizations, families, and individuals with restaurants providing food services in the area and many restaurants have been recognized as civilized restaurants. The recognition period is 1 year from the date of recognition, if any unit violates the criteria, the title will be revoked. And units that promote the title will be re-granted...".

In recent years, the town's leaders have always paid attention to the development of tourism plans, planning, expansion of tourism space, investment in infrastructure construction, investment and investment attraction policies and mechanisms. Along with that, diversifying and improving the quality of tourism products and connecting with destinations in Vinh City and Nam Dan create diversity in services for tourists. Promoting cooperation in connecting tours and routes with key tourist localities of the country to promote, exchange experiences, promote trade and investment... As part of the roadmap to build the Cua Lo tourism brand, the town is continuing to focus on planning, investment, and urban embellishment. Reviewing existing plans, completing unfinished projects, implementing the construction of potential tourist areas in Nghi Huong, Cua Hoi, along the Lam River to develop tourism; From the end of 2015, no new kiosks will be built. By 2020, no food service will be arranged on the East side of Binh Minh Street to reserve space for planting trees, lawns, flower beds and community activities. Plan the operating area for the jet ski service in the South of Binh Minh Square and 2 bus stations for the electric car service in Nghi Thuy and South of Binh Minh Square to gradually manage and operate the activities in an orderly manner.

Mr. Doan Tien Dung, Chairman of the Town People's Committee said: We continue to direct the implementation of the "5 no" policy and tourism services; manage prices well, prevent price hikes, price pressure, fake goods, and poor quality goods from affecting the tourism brand. With the goal of being green, clean, beautiful, and lit at night, the town is striving to ensure the development of tourism and services in a synchronous and gradually modern and sustainable manner.

Thu Huyen