TST Travel is strongly developing spiritual tourism.

(Baonghean.vn) - It's not just at the beginning of the year that tourists want to travel and visit religious or spiritual sites (collectively known as spiritual tourism); nowadays, tourists can travel at any time of the year.

Recognizing this need, TST Travel International Travel Center, located on the 2nd floor of the Muong Thanh Office Building, No. 1 Phan Boi Chau Street, Vinh City, Nghe An Province, a leading travel agency in Nghe An, has launched spiritual tourism packages not only domestically but also internationally, meeting the significant demand of customers in the Northern and North Central regions of Vietnam.

The TST Travel group is performing a ceremony at That Luang, Laos.

Diverse destinations

Nghe An province, the homeland of the Vi Giam folk songs – a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity – is situated along the Central Vietnam heritage axis: Ho Dynasty Citadel - Thanh Hoa, Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue - Da Nang - Hoi An. It is chosen by many tourists as a destination because, in addition to tourist attractions, Nghe An also boasts many architectural works of spiritual significance such as Corn Temple; Hoang Muoi Temple, Cui Temple (following the Four Palaces Mother Goddess worship); Huong Tich Pagoda, Uncle Ho's birthplace; Phuong Hoang Trung Do, Nguyen Du Memorial Area...

Visiting Phuong Hoang Trung Do on the summit of Quyet Mountain for the first time, Mr. Vu Manh Cuong (Central Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital) felt very pleased: “The Quang Trung Temple, part of the Phuong Hoang Trung Do historical site, is spacious and well-maintained, situated in isolation on the mountain overlooking the Hoi estuary and the Lam Giang River, offering a very open view. As a visitor, I felt a sense of peace and tranquility, free from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.”

In addition to domestic spiritual tourism tours, TST Travel International also offers many overseas tours to destinations such as temples and pagodas in Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, Myanmar, or even further afield to India and Nepal – Buddhist kingdoms. While a few years ago these spiritual tours were particularly popular among middle-aged women and office workers, the target audience has now expanded significantly.

Soc Trang Fisheries Association embarks on a spiritual tourism journey with TST Travel in Laos and Thailand.

Mr. Nguyen Huu Bac, Director of TST Travel International Tourism Center - Nghe An, said: "Besides purely international tours, spiritual tourism is a new product of TST Travel. After a period of operation, we have found that this tour also brings to the potential market. To best serve tourists, all tour guides at TST Travel are required to undergo training in religion and spiritual tourism."

It's worth investing to attract more customers.

Although travel agencies offer spiritual tourism programs with diverse domestic and international tours, some experts believe that these agencies have only exploited spiritual destinations and have not yet achieved a true spiritual tourism product. Spiritual tourism truly helps tourists achieve relaxation, comfort, and fulfillment of their beliefs, rather than simply sightseeing and worshipping. Many groups on spiritual tours want to stay at these sites to learn about the faith, meditate, or perform charitable work, but very few sites offer this opportunity.

According to tourism researcher Associate Professor Vu Tuan Canh, although the prices of spiritual tours are usually lower than those of regular tourist tours, the number of tourists participating in these tours is still not as high as the existing potential. It is known that many travel agencies have yet to exploit and develop this type of spiritual tour.

To differentiate their spring tours, a representative from TST International Travel added: "Currently, TST Travel has contacted monks and management at several tourist attractions such as Yen Tu and Con Son... to potentially offer meditation and mindfulness classes on weekends. We also have special programs for young people during the summer to educate them about traditional culture. TST Travel wants to create something different and help tourists experience the true value of spiritual and cultural tourism – finding truth, goodness, and beauty, not just seeking fame and fortune. This is what sets us apart and attracts tourists to TST Travel."

An Hanh