VnExpress Marathon Hue 2020 opens on the evening of December 26 and starts to compete in the early morning of December 27 (In photo: Phu Văn Lâu (Pavilion of Edicts), where the athletes start the distances)
30 accommodation establishments register to offer a discount
VnExpress Marathon Hue 2020 run by VnExpress Electronic Newspaper in coordination with the Provincial People's Committee will be held in Phu Van Lau area (Le Duan Street, Hue City). The marathon is one of the major events of the province in 2020 and is expected to attract a large number of tourists in the Ancient Capital this time. This is also Thua Thien Hue’s biggest marathon ever.
Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism said in order to attract and support the athletes who participate in the tournament in combination with sightseeing and experiencing Hue tourism, the Department of Tourism in concert with the Provincial Association of Tourism encourages the accommodation establishments to develop the discount and preferential policies for the athletes and relatives.
Accordingly, more than 30 hotels joined in the program of marathon accommodation support.
As of December 24, the accommodation establishments announce that the room occupancy rate reach 70-80% in the days before, during and after the marathon. Some establishments reach the rate of 100%.
Hue Mondial Hotel applies the program to support athletes in charging the room rates per person. Accordingly, each athlete is given an incentive to pair rooms at the rate of 295 thousand VND / person per day and night including breakfast.
Thanks to this application, the athletes can flexibly pair rooms with other athletes to reduce rates, or the hotel will introduce the athletes for pairing rooms.
Hue Vinpearl Hotel offers athletes a 20% discount on room rates, along with a package of airport shuttle and taking athletes to the marathon venue. Alba Spa Hotel applies an additional package of foot massage service, hot spring bath...
To better serve the athletes and tourists and keep tourists staying in Hue longer, the businesses also form the (package) service combo such as meals, transportation, attractions, health care service at preferential prices for the athletes from other provinces to Hue and the members of the organizing board. At the 30 accommodation establishments that registered for the program, athletes can ask the receptionists for the preferential policies.
In order to impress and help the athletes visit and experience many destinations and tourism services in Hue, through the marathon, the athletes who have not yet explored Hue Complex of Monuments will be exempt from tickets to all monuments.
Opportunities for tourism
Mr. Nguyen Van Phuc judged that VNExpress Marathon Hue 2020 is a golden opportunity for Hue to promote its image. This year, the running track has been carefully selected to show Hue’s typical beauty with the routes of 10km, 21km and 42km.
“This year, the marathon introduces quite a few destinations in Kim Long. Especially in the marathon schedule, the athletes will run past the garden houses at Phu Mong. This is a very typical destination of Hue that has long been little known. This route is not only introduced but also integrated into the marathon schedule, creating an exciting atmosphere for this route with few passers-by.
The forecast says Hue weather will be sunny and fine on the opening day. According to the tourism sector, the marathon will take place only in one day, but the target is for the businesses to work together to introduce their products and to keep tourists to Hue staying in 2 - 3 days. This is also an opportunity for the businesses to show their solidarity and mutual support in Hue tourism recovery.
Mr. Nguyen Huu Binh, Chairman of the Provincial Association of Accommodation, said that the previous schedule in Hue may be shorter than planned, but if we work together to "launch" the attractive promotion programs and the methodical programs of product advertisement, many athletes will surely change their minds and will stay in Hue to explore and experience the novel and attractive services.
For long distances, the marathon organizing board stopped accepting athletes to join in; however, for the 5km distance, it continues to accept registration. The accommodation establishments said that they will continue to receive guests with preferential services and prices as before. Currently, the tourism sector continues to promote the marathon by taking the panels, led screens on the marathon to the accommodation establishments, the websites of businesses and on fan pages in order to welcome and create friendliness towards the athletes.
Marathon is one of the exciting activities that last from Christmas to the end of New Year's Day 2021. According to the Accommodation Management Division, the Department of Tourism, the average room occupancy rate in accommodation establishments reaches 70% on this occasion. This is the time Hue has attracted the largest number of tourists since July 2020 up to now.
VnExpress Marathon Hue 2020 Medal is inspired by the Vũ Phiến Dance (Fan Dance) used at the grand parties of Hue royal court. On the medal is the image of Thien Mu Pagoda as a symbol placed in the middle of the medal, both sides of which are Đại Nội (Royal Palace) and Quốc Học. High School. These are 3 famous place names, famous destinations of Hue tourism.
Story and photo: Quang Sang