Cua Lo aims for year-round tourism.

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cua Lo town, spoke with Nghe An Newspaper.

Opening Ceremony of the Cua Lo Tourism Festival 2022. Photo: Thanh Cuong

PV: Despite striving to become a tourist city, for many years Cua Lo town has only been able to do tourism during the summer months, remaining dormant for the rest of the year. What are your thoughts on this situation?

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc:Over the years, tourismCua LoThe town only truly comes alive in the summer. This is due to the unfavorable weather and geographical location of the area. Autumn and spring are quite cold; winter brings unpredictable storms. Weather conditions hinder tourists' enjoyment of swimming. Weather impacts the supply and demand dynamics, leading to monotonous recreational activities and tourism products in spring, autumn, and winter in Cua Lo. Therefore, Cua Lo town doesn't attract many tourists during these seasons.

Because tourism is only possible during the summer season...Cua LoCua Lo faces many disadvantages compared to other coastal tourist destinations nationwide such as Khanh Hoa, Da Nang, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, or Binh Thuan… In those areas, the weather is hot all year round, which is very favorable for beach tourism. And compared to other coastal tourist destinations in the region with similar weather conditions such as Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, and Thanh Hoa, Cua Lo is also at a disadvantage due to its geographical distance from the center of the Northern Delta, as tourists usually prefer destinations closer to home.

PV: Faced with this disadvantage, what solutions has Cua Lo town implemented to change the situation?

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc:It must be said that the landscape of seasonal tourism is gradually changing with positive signs. The number of tourists visiting Cua Lo is increasing, not only in the summer but in all seasons of the year. This change stems from Cua Lo recognizing its limitations and setting a goal of developing tourism in all four seasons, implementing solutions step by step to realize this goal.

Tourists enjoy swimming at Cua Lo beach. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Specifically, the town has been developing more diverse and attractive tourism products. In addition to resort tourism and beach activities, it is developing other types of tourism such as sightseeing, shopping, and cultural tourism. Cua Lo's destinations are gradually becoming more distinct, each with its own unique characteristics of the Nghe An coastal region, and the products offered reflect this.

Besides tourism products, Cua Lo town also coordinates with departments and agencies in the province to increase the frequency and number of tourism activities organized locally to attract tourists. For example, in 2022, the town developed a series of activities during the tourism opening week, a series of activities throughout the year. This series of activities includes cultural, artistic, sports activities, and fairs on a provincial, regional, and national scale…

PV: When tourists visit during the Autumn and Winter of 2022, what products, entertainment, and experiences will Cua Lo offer them?

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc:This autumn and winter, Cua Lo has quite a few new products and destinations. Firstly, the town has built many check-in points in the Binh Minh Square area and the forest park; created fields of sea daisies; and offers agricultural tourism products for visitors to explore, take photos, and experience.

Cua Hoi Bridge - a beautiful spot for taking photos. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Secondly, each ward and commune in Cua Lo town has also developed a cultural and shopping destination. For example, in Nghi Thuy ward, visitors can experience the culture of a coastal village, visit the ancient town, provincial and national historical and cultural relics, and traditional markets; and shop for OCOP products such as mackerel, shrimp, and dried squid. In Nghi Hai ward, the destination is the Cua Hoi bridge and the riverside food court; and in Nghi Hoa ward, there is an eco-tourism area offering experiences in traditional crafts and agricultural products.

Thirdly, the town has proposed to relevant departments and agencies to allow the beautification and expansion of the grounds of historical sites and spiritual destinations, making them more beautiful and spacious. At these sites, visitors will be guided and explained by tour guides and interpreters arranged by the wards, helping them understand more about the local historical and cultural values. Along with that, traditional festivals are also being restored at these spiritual destinations. Traditional festivals associated with the historical sites are held throughout the year. Visitors to Cua Lo will experience the joyful and sacred atmosphere of these festivals.

Alongside the restoration work, Cua Lo also assigned the wards to build and restore festivals, especially traditional festivals, which this year will be organized on a grander and better scale. Recently, the Cua Lo Tourism Opening Festival and the Fishing Festival at Lang Hieu Temple were held. Other festivals such as Phuc Loc Ngoat in Nghi Thuy, and other historical site festivals will also be organized throughout the 2022 tourism year.

PV: To develop year-round tourism, businesses and residents involved in tourism must play the role of the main actors creating new products. However, it seems the town is "doing" this role for them?

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc:Developing Cua Lo town, including year-round tourism, requires the efforts, responsibility, and joint contributions of the Party committee, government, and people. Cua Lo town has been making every effort to create the foundations for tourism to break through and thrive…

Tourists visit the ancestral church of heroine Le Thi Bach Cat. Photo: Thanh Cuong

Cua Lo town also clearly recognizes that the key to developing new tourism products lies with businesses and local people involved in tourism. Therefore, the town has been striving to attract more businesses with strong potential and resources to invest. Specifically, the town is replanning the area east of Binh Minh road park. Here, the town will invite large tourism businesses from Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Nha Trang to invest and develop high-end services such as mud baths, hot springs, and modern entertainment and culinary areas.

At the same time, to continue attracting visitors, the town is also encouraging businesses to participate in socialized promotional activities, urban beautification, and investment in more modern and clean infrastructure. Only then will Cua Lo town attract more tourists and new investors.

Specifically for people involved in tourism in Cua Lo town, the town is encouraging them to participate in suitable areas and fields, namely: community tourism; producing products serving tourism such as flower cultivation, clean food... It must be recognized that for people to truly be the main actors in creating new, sustainable tourism products, a process of gradual change in awareness and action is needed.

PV: To develop sustainable year-round tourism, what kind of support and assistance does Cua Lo town need, sir?

Tourists are captivated by the sea daisy forest. Photo: Duc Anh.

Mr. Hoang Van Phuc:To achieve year-round tourism development, Cua Lo Town earnestly hopes that provincial authorities and relevant departments will pay attention to and support attracting more large enterprises to invest in the area. With the investment of businesses, Cua Lo Town will be able to diversify its tourism products. Furthermore, we hope that provincial authorities and relevant departments will strengthen their cooperation and support in promoting tourism, especially in the southern provinces, the region, and internationally, particularly targeting tourists who prefer beach tourism.

We hope that tourism businesses will strengthen their ties with Cua Lo town during their operations; when bringing tourists to the province, they should incorporate Cua Lo destinations into tours and itineraries to jointly promote development… We also hope that people in the province, especially those in Cua Lo town, will participate in and utilize local tourism services, becoming promoters of Cua Lo as a tourist destination to friends near and far.

Interviewer: Thank you for the interview!

Thanh Chung (compiled)