'Awakening' the night economy in Vinh city
(Baonghean.vn) - After nearly 3 months of opening and operation, Vinh walking street attracts 15,000-20,000 participants each night. According to initial assessments, Vinh walking street with many typical activities such as: street music, folk dance, games for young people... is creating its own attraction and appeal. In addition, business activities on the walking street are also being promoted, creating momentum for the city's night-time economic development...
Positive signals
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Vinh walking street attracts about 15,000 - 20,000 people to visit, shop and experience every night. Photo: TP |
Walking streetThe first pedestrian street in Vinh City was inaugurated on the night of April 8, 2022. The walking street is about 1.5 km long with 4 interconnected routes. Of which, the Ho Tung Mau section (from Cau Nai to the starting point of Nguyen Trung Ngan Street) is 430 m long; the Nguyen Van Cu section (the starting point of the intersection with Ho Tung Mau Street, the end point of the intersection with Le Hong Phong Street) is 500 m long. The rest is Nguyen Trung Ngan Street (from the beginning of alley 2 to the intersection with Nguyen Van Cu Street) and Nguyen Tai section (the intersection with Ho Tung Mau Street to the intersection with Nguyen Van Cu Street).
The selection of the above 4 walking paths has connected the central area, creating a vibrant circle. On these routes, there are also hundreds of food, fashion, art, and entertainment businesses, helping to promote regional cuisine, increasing the consumption of goods...
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| Many services attract customers on the sidewalk of the walking street. Photo: TP |
After opening and trial operation, every night of operation,Vinh walking streetattracted 15,000-20,000 participants. That number shows the attraction of the walking street, which is not only a place for entertainment on weekend nights for city residents but also an attractive destination for tourists when coming to Vinh city.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Tho, from Nghi Xuan district (Ha Tinh) said: “My family and I visited and experienced the walking street 3 times. We were able to leisurely walk on the spacious streets, watch the city at night, experience water music; enjoy the dances of the dance groups; vibrant folk dance performances, interesting folk games… And we could snack on street foods: ice cream, sweet soup, cakes…”.
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An artistic and entertainment activity attracts a large number of people to participate. Photo: TP |
According to statistics, there are currently 89 fixed businesses on the sidewalks of Nguyen Tai Street; 120 mobile businesses on the streets (of which, games: 21, refreshments: 70, fast food: 29). Mr. Nguyen Ba, a Korean smoke ice cream vendor on the walking street, said: "On normal days, I do business at home, the number of customers is stable and mainly regular customers. When the city put the walking street into operation, I registered to do business on the street. The revenue of the 2 weekend nights is higher than the whole week I sell at home. There are many customers, the ice cream is sold to customers to take away, no need for tables, chairs, electricity, water, no need to serve, so it is quite convenient." Not only Mr. Ba, but also according to the general assessment of the businesses on the walking street, the revenue has increased significantly.
Mr. Hoang Anh Tien, Head of Vinh Walking Street Management Board, said: "Every Friday and Saturday night, the walking street is crowded with people, tourists, especially young people coming to visit, experience and shop. There are no initial statistics on sales and business efficiency, but it can be seen that the number of people coming to the walking street on weekend nights is always crowded."
After 3 months of trial operation, the Vinh Walking Street Management Board also pointed out initial shortcomings and limitations such as: Some businesses have not complied with environmental sanitation requirements; Lack of fixed stages to organize events and cultural and artistic activities; Some entertainment activities are spontaneous, organized in the middle of the street, affecting the walking street space; Sound and light effects at night are still lacking, there are no check-in photo spots to promote the walking street; Some business lines have reduced the number of customers such as: Karaoke, fashion, Nguyen Tai Food Street... due to the lack of traffic.
Exploiting the night economy effectively
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| Cao Thang night street has just reopened after a long break due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Photo: TP |
In fact,Vinh cityThere is great potential for night-time economic development with a system of commercial, service and tourism infrastructure, and available night-time economic activities such as: night cuisine in the Citadel area, Ho Sy Duong street; food, beverage, entertainment venues, etc. However, these potentials have not been effectively exploited. Initial signals from the implementation of Vinh walking street, the resumption of Cao Thang night street will be the driving force to promote the development of the local night-time economic development model.
This is a positive development direction that many localities in the country such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Can Tho, Quang Binh, Ninh Binh... have implemented and exploited very effectively. This development direction is also consistent with the city's economic development orientation of developing services, trade... Because night-time economic services will bring a significant source of revenue to the city, especially tax revenue from services, business and value added tax.
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| Sidewalk business develops on Vinh walking streets. Photo: TP |
However, in the testing phase, although it has done a good job of attracting people to the walking street, it is simply a community living space and has not fully exploited its economic, tourism and cultural potential.
It should be organized systematically, creating unique features on each street. Entertainment services and goods for sale must be selective, avoiding duplication and boredom, especially ensuring reasonable prices and good quality. At the same time, it is necessary to create attractive models so that tourists are willing to "open their wallets" to spend. On the other hand, there should be incentive policies, along with strict, timely and practical management regulations.
Accordingly, the management board needs to coordinate with the authorities, monitor the business operation process, encourage enterprises and business households to cooperate in building products, introduce competitive mechanisms, commit to the environment, healthy business culture, self-manage security and order, and prevent price gouging and social evils and violence. At the same time, focus on traffic services, environmental sanitation and stable electricity and water networks and wastewater discharge and drainage systems... On the other hand, it is necessary to call for and attract investment from enterprises in operating and exploiting the economic efficiency of the Cao Thang walking street and night street.
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There should be more activities and services to attract visitors to the walking street. Photo: TP |
In addition, it is necessary to have the companionship of each citizen in the form of socialization. Because the walking street activities bring spiritual and cultural life to the people, at the same time closely linked to the interests of the people involved. Therefore, businesses on the streets and fixed booths must have the awareness and thinking to enrich and diversify their business products to serve customers, attract customers to the walking street, and also to bring profits to themselves; Individuals, groups, groups, and clubs participating in the performance need to have rich, diverse, and attractive forms of expression.
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| For the walking street to have long-term and stable vitality, it is necessary to have the companionship and participation of the government, people and the role of businesses. Photo: TP |
The state invests in infrastructure, while people spend money to do business and earn profits, and participants pay to enjoy. Only then will "Vinh Night Street" have a long-term, stable vitality, helping the city have more cultural highlights to attract tourists and effectively exploit the night-time economy.