Seaside resorts are a popular demand amongst many of the tourists’ choices.
Waterfall and spring tourism becomes the undisputed champion
After stressful times due to COVID-19 pandemic, the demands of local tourists have shifted towards resorts, beaches, ecotourism (such as river, waterfalls and springs tours).
Huế is a destination defined more than its cultural heritage. It also has the best waterfalls and springs in Central Vietnam. Over the last few years, a large number of tourists have chosen these travel products in Huế.
In Bạch Mã Village, Phú Lộc, not only the number of local tourists but also that of visitors from surrounding areas is increasing compared to the previous year. In order to attract more tourists, this place has set up entrance ticket selling and taxi services in Huế City. Specifically, when a tourist books a hotel room in Huế, they will gain the benefit of having a cost-free transportation service to and from the resort.
Other waterfalls and springs in Phú Lộc, such as Voi Springs (Lộc Tiến), Mơ Springs (Lăng Cô), Tiên Springs (Lộc Thủy), Nhị Hồ falls have had a spike in visitors compared to previous years; especially during the weekends, these attractions are fully packed.
Mr. Nguyễn Thanh Tâm, President of Ecotourism Management of Song Thủy Co-operative, mentioned that the number of other provinces tourists (especially from Đà Nẵng and Quảng Nam) that regularly visit this area is the same as that of previous years. However, especially in recent times, there has been a rise in local visitors compared to previous years.
Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phúc, Vice-president of the Department of Tourism, shared that information gathered from businesses currently developing tours at these natural attractions shows that the number of tourists has been relatively stable and the tourist market is mostly in-province travel. Furthermore, tours to A Lưới are held mostly every week, while tours to Tam Giang have been noted to garner consistent bookings.
“This form of relaxation combined with nature exploring is a unique experience. For example, in Alba Thanh Tân, the demand for room reservation far exceeds the supply,” said Mr. Phúc.
In-province tourists enjoying hot mineral baths at Alba Thanh Tân
Beaches such as Thuận An, Vinh Thanh, Cảnh Dương, and most recently Quảng Ngạn noticed a massive surge of visitors during the weekends. Although these places have not had plenty of tourists from other provinces, the large quantity of guests in the province has helped businesses generate considerable revenue.
Raising the stature for tourism services
Community tourism and ecotourism are the strengths of Hue tourism. Regardless of how a post-COVID-19 world may be, these types of tourism are also regarded as the trends in the near future. Not mentioning local tourists, green and/or nature-based tourism has been the premier choice of international visitors.
According to Mr. Nguyễn Văn Phúc, based on current and predicted demands, this is the time to improve the service quality and branding for ecotourism in Huế. When customers turn to enjoy relaxing at resorts and having fun at springs and falls; this is a great opportunity for these destinations to promote their services and approach for various types of visitors.
Ms. Phạm Thị Vân Hà, Vice-president of TNG Holdings Vietnam, leading investor of Lapochine Beach Resort, commented that ‘Vietnam Now – Safety and Smiling’ program (developed by the Cultural, Sports, and Tourism Department) is designed to restructure the segments of the market, to promote communication work , and to develop new tourism services. Additionally, the Department is distributing stimulus packages in both domestic and international markets. Due to this strategy, this is not only a golden opportunity to travel but also a perfect time to enhance the quality and brand name.
Tourism businesses are expanding the scope and scale of their operation to new heights. Mr. Nguyễn Tuấn Khanh, President of Bạch Mã Village Company Limited, claimed that other than the services being developed, Bạch Mã Village is planning to expand its market by building a transportation system to pick up guests from Huế and Đà Nẵng
Service-wise, Bạch Mã Village is going to implement ziplines, infinity pools, stages for musical performances or teambuilding, and over 100 rooms for 3-star hotels.
Leaders of the Department of Tourism have also shared that they plan to focus on promoting nature-based services being provided efficiently in Huế, Đà Nẵng, and Quảng Nam on Vietnam Television. With the goal to create a marketable image, they desire to attract not only more tourists but also more potential investors, so that Huế will have more attractions that tourists cannot miss.
By Quang Sang