Celebrating the 28th anniversary of the establishment of Cua Lo town (August 29, 1994 - August 29, 2022): Breakthrough for development

Shining coastal tourist city

Cua LoThroughout its natural history, Cua Lo has been a locality with a long, beautiful beach with white sand and golden sunshine. Cua Lo is home to fishing villages and a place for swimming, resting and walking for the community. The beauty of Cua Lo began to be exploited when the French colonialists chose this place to build resorts for the staff working in Vinh - the industrial center during the colonial exploitation. After Sapa (1903), Mau Don (1906), Ba Na (1904), Cua Lo officially became a famous tourist area in Vietnam when on June 5, 1907, the Governor General of Indochina issued a Decree on determining the method of land ownership at Cua Lo beach.

Dawn in Cua Lo. Photo: Canh Hung

The ups and downs of history with two great wars of national salvation and defense have gradually caused the French architecture built in Cua Lo to gradually fall into disrepair. However, the precious and long-standing values ​​here are immortal. And it is these values ​​that have once again "awakened" Cua Lo. On August 29, 1994, the Government issued Decree 114/ND-CP establishing Cua Lo town. From here, Cua Lo quickly rose to become a youthful and vibrant coastal town. Cua Lo tourism has gradually affirmed its position in the development of the country in general and Nghe An in particular... On April 18, 2014, Cua Lo was recognized by the Government as the first coastal tourism city in the country.

Constantly renovating for development, in recent years, the Party Committee and people of Cua Lo town have made great efforts to build a green, clean, beautiful, modern and sustainable coastal tourism town. Cua Lo town has resolutely implemented the "5 no's" policy, effectively implementing the motto "Cua Lo Tourism: Discipline - Brand". The town has promoted the promotion of key, focal points, with highlights, especially provincial-level activities; developed infrastructure, improved the quality of tourism services; focused on improving the intellectual level of the people, vocational training, job creation, training on cultural behavior in communication for the people... Along with that, the town also cares about protecting the environment, landscape of the tourist area, ensuring security, order, social safety, strengthening rescue and first aid at sea.

Cua Lo is gradually becoming a potential, youthful, friendly and modern tourist city. Photo: Canh Hung

Therefore, Cua Lo town has become a gathering place attracting millions of tourists each year for sightseeing, relaxation, seminars, conferences and event organization. Cua Lo tourism brand has gradually become famous, familiar, attractive in the hearts of friends, domestic and international tourists... In 2019 alone, the town welcomed 3,178,000 visitors, with 1,620,000 guests staying. Revenue from service and tourism activities reached 3,450 billion VND, tax collection, tourism service fees reached 50 billion VND. The whole town has 304 accommodation establishments, capable of serving 25,000 guests staying/day and night; of which there are 54 1-5 star accommodation establishments that meet the needs of activities and organize international events.

From a poor coastal fishing village, Cua Lo has overcome all difficulties and challenges, grasped opportunities, and exploited the advantages of the sea to become a potential, youthful, friendly, and modern tourist city; becoming an important highlight on the Central heritage journey. Cua Lo stands out as a "green pearl" of the sea, worthy of the assessment of the World Tourism Organization (WTO): "It is a suitable place for cultural tourism and adventure tourism, as well as special interest tourism. In the long term, Cua Lo can be one of the most visited tourist destinations in Vietnam".

Change to grow

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

In 2020-2021, due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of visitors and tourism revenue of Cua Lo decreased sharply. Many tourism businesses operated at a standstill and closed. The number of unemployed workers in the industry increased. Many results and targets of tourism activities did not meet the set plan. Entering 2022 when the Covid-19 pandemic was gradually controlled, Cua Lo town made many efforts to restore and develop tourism again.

Specifically: Cua Lo Town has proactively created a safe tourism environment in the prevention and control of the Covid-19 epidemic; focused on building tourism infrastructure, beautifying the green - clean - beautiful urban area to welcome tourists; ensuring security and order in all aspects; building destinations, in which the main highlight is the destinations in Nghi Thuy ward; building more diverse and attractive tourism products; promoting information, communication, propaganda and tourism promotion.

Sea daisy hill - a new tourism product of Cua Lo in 2022. Photo: Duc Anh

Aiming at four-season tourism, the town has coordinated with departments, branches and sectors in the province to increase the frequency and number of tourism activities organized locally, including cultural, artistic, sports and fair activities at provincial, regional and national levels throughout the year. In particular, in July 2022, festivals were held for the first time in Cua Lo town: the Requiem Festival, candle lighting to pay tribute to heroic martyrs, the Hot Air Balloon Festival, and the Lantern Festival, which were highly appreciated and responded to by the people and tourists.

With its relentless efforts, Cua Lo town has achieved many results in restoring and developing tourism. Mr. Hoang Van Phuc - Vice Chairman of Cua Lo town People's Committee said: The total number of tourists in the first 8 months of 2022 is estimated at 2,586,000, reaching 166% of the plan; of which 800,000 are staying guests, reaching 155% of the plan. Revenue from service and tourism activities reached 2,610 billion VND, reaching 171% of the plan... Currently, Cua Lo town has been focusing on stimulating tourism demand in the low season to promote the growth of domestic and international tourists to the locality in the Fall - Winter season (from after the National Day on September 2 to December 2022). The goal set in the seasonFall – WinterThis year, Cua Lo town welcomed about 150,000 visitors, of which about 23,000 stayed, with revenue of over 200 billion VND.

Cua Lo town is preparing to carry out a “big revolution” - clearing kiosks in the park area east of Binh Minh street to create a breakthrough, developing commensurate with the advantages and potential of a coastal tourist city. Photo: Thanh Cuong

In addition to promoting low-season tourism development, during this time, Cua Lo town will carry out a "big revolution" to attract investment in infrastructure, create a breakthrough, and develop commensurate with the advantages and potential of a coastal tourist city. Specifically, on August 22, 2022, the Standing Committee of Cua Lo Town Party Committee agreed on the Plan to clear kiosks in the southern forest park area.East of Binh Minh Streetand organizing business activities on the west side of Binh Minh Street. Cua Lo Town identified the issue of clearing kiosks in the park area on the east side of Binh Minh Street as an important task, requiring focused direction to implement "lightning speed", clearing synchronously, simultaneously, quickly, without exception (to be completed in October 2022). The issue of renovating technical infrastructure items on the west side of Binh Minh Street from 2023 to 2025 associated with organizing business activities on the west side of Binh Minh Street is a "vital" and long-term issue, eliminating seasonality, aiming for 4-season tourism.

With high determination and the participation of the entire political system, we believe that in the near future, the infrastructure system in Cua Lo town will be spacious and modern, meeting the increasing needs of tourists. Cua Lo will be one of the ideal destinations for swimming, relaxing, experiencing, leaving an impression in the hearts of domestic and foreign tourists./.

Thanh Chung