Hue attaches great importance to heritage-based tourism development

Details for easy investment attraction

At the consultation workshop on developing a set of criteria of heritage city organized by the Provincial People's Committee in late 2019, experts and researchers said that for Hue to become a city directly under the central government by 2025 in the orientation of heritage city, landscape and environmental friendliness, there is a need to have a master plan, based on very detailed plans characteristic of heritage to lay the foundation for tourism development.

The content of Resolution 54 also requires Hue to step up the planning work, especially urban planning in the direction of strongly developing synchronous, modern and smart infrastructure; particularly transport infrastructure, information technology, urban area to ensure the harmony between architecture and nature and characteristics of Hue. It is also necessary to restore major monuments in the Dai Noi area (Imperial City) and cultural works, Gia Hoi, Chi Lang and Bao Vinh ancient quarters, conserve the ancient town, ancient urban area, nhà rường (a traditional, small house without main column), garden house, Phuoc Tich ancient village.

The orientation specifies what Hue needs to do is to promote the strengths of the heritage urban area, to build and form typical tourist products to attract tourists, raise expenditure levels, and extend the stay …According to the experts on tourism, Hue has not yet really done those things well for many years. Many experts point out that when the urban economy develops, the per-capita income in heritage urban area will increase. Therefore, when tourism development is determined, it is necessary to harmonize the benefits and have the community's cooperation.

Typically, on the streets around Dai Noi (Imperial City) (Doan Thi Diem, Dang Thai Than and Le Huan), a new chain of tourism services needs to be formed. Turning these streets into tourist destinations has been mentioned a lot, but not yet implemented.

Although there is no specific plan, not few ideas and solutions are proposed.According to the experts, only when Hue City has a good and specific plan can the chain of services be shaped and the conversion of business forms be solved in accordance with the tourism industry to ensure the people’s livelihood.

Mr. Dinh Manh Thang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association said that for example, after the clearance of Thượng thành (Upper Citadel) area, in order to bring into play its value, the specific plan should be drawn up. Socialization is needed to develop tourism, but without specific regulations, investors will face difficulties. Also, the State can also consider building facilities, then attract businesses to exploitation in order to avoid the influence on heritage.

Mr. Le Ngoc Sanh, Chief of Office of the Department of Tourism also said, in fact, Hue tourism is still developing on the basis of culture and heritage. Today it is important to have new products or to refresh them on the old basis. The master plan for tourism development is available, but the specific plan for heritage tourism development has not yet made.

Therefore, when attracting investors, it is very easy to get entangled in the regulations minor but difficult to meet in connection with heritage. More difficultly, according to the current regulations, there is no longer a separate plan for each sector, but it must be incorporated into one master plan. Therefore, the close coordination among stakeholders is mandatory when Hue develops tourism in the orientation of Resolution 54.

Superior and unique

Hue ancient capital currently has 7 UNESCO-recognized world heritages, including 3 types: tangible, intangible and documentary heritages. Hue is also a land rich in unique natural heritages of typical value ​​within the country and the region.

Hue has created impressive brands such as "The typical Festival City of Vietnam", "ASEAN Cultural City", "ASEAN Green City" ... These are necessary conditions, and now the additional Resolution 54 will be the sufficient condition for Hue to soon develop into a model, unique, distinct and superior heritage tourism city.

At a consultation workshop on building a set of criteria of heritage city held in early 2019, researcher Nguyen Xuan Hoa proposed that Hue should give greater emphasis on the heritage values of its own such as Nhã nhạc (royal music), ca Huế (Hue traditional folk songs)… At the same time, it is necessary to review all the city-related data such as population and infrastructure to form a tourist city.

From a different development perspective, Mr. Vu Hoai Phuong, Principal of Hue College of Tourism said that Hue is famous for its character, culture and history. Whoever lived in Hue came to Hue loves and cherishes those values.

In a heritage city, to develop tourism, there should be the standard models of alleys, trees, people...If necessary, the model heritage urban sub-zones can be formed. Sometimes, such standard models formed can become the typical and distinct products.

At the meeting with tourism sector about the orientation of tourism development in 2020 and the following years, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Phan Ngoc Tho affirmed that in tourism development, to attract tourists and increase their expenditure, there must be distinction. It is what Hue will focus on.

Hue's target is to realize and clarify the Provincial Party Committee’s viewpoint:  tourism is seen as a key economic sector on the basis of culture, heritage, natural landscapes ... and smart, sustainable tourism development. Therefore, Hue tourism development necessitates the superior, distinct products based on the strengths of culture and heritage Hue possesses.

Story: DUC QUANG – Photo: HOANG HAI