A boost for tourism in Khanh Hoa.

Two component projects of the North-South Expressway, with a total length of over 150km (the Nha Trang - Cam Lam and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet sections), have been put into operation, significantly shortening travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang. This will provide a boost, creating favorable conditions for Khanh Hoa tourism to attract visitors from southern provinces.

As soon as news broke that the Nha Trang - Cam Lam (over 49km) and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet (101km) expressways were open on May 19th, Mr. Nguyen Van Hung ( Ho Chi Minh City) contacted Muong Thanh Nha Trang Luxury Hotel (Nha Trang City) to book a room for the Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Sea Festival (June 3rd to 6th). Previously, although his children loved going to Nha Trang for the sea festival, Mr. Hung had to choose Vung Tau for his family's summer vacation because airfare was too high and traveling by road via National Highway 1 would take too much time. On travel forums, many people in Ho Chi Minh City also expressed their intention to travel to Khanh Hoa to visit family via the expressway system.

Tourists on a Nha Trang beach tour.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Le Thanh, Director of the Department of Tourism, noted that with airfares quite expensive during the peak summer travel season, tourists are increasingly preferring to travel by private vehicle. The operation of expressway projects will help Khanh Hoa tourism attract visitors from southern provinces, especially from Ho Chi Minh City. Mr. Vo Quang Hoang, General Manager of Ariyana Hotel and Chairman of the Khanh Hoa Hotel Association (Nha Trang - Khanh Hoa Tourism Association), stated that Nha Trang remains a favorite beach destination for tourists from Ho Chi Minh City. However, due to the long distance, many tourists choose Vung Tau or Binh Thuan instead. During the recent April 30th and May 1st holidays, Binh Thuan tourism benefited greatly from the opening of the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay expressway, resulting in a significant increase in tourist numbers. He expects Khanh Hoa tourism to also benefit from the expressway effect, especially with the summer travel season approaching.

The opening of these expressways is not only an immediate effect but also has a significant long-term impact on tourism development in Khanh Hoa. Currently, only the Cam Lam - Vinh Hao section (70km) from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang remains unfinished. Once this section is completed, travel time from Ho Chi Minh City to Nha Trang will be significantly shortened. This will give tourists more choices of transportation and make traveling by private vehicle more convenient. According to our reporter, in recent days, the number of tourists from southern provinces calling hotels and resorts in Nha Trang to inquire about room rates for this summer has increased significantly. Hotels and resorts have also recruited and trained additional staff to prepare for the summer tourist season. Many hotels and resorts in the Bai Dai area (Cam Lam district) have recorded a high increase in bookings, with Alma Resort almost closing its retail sales channel.

In the long term, changes in travel habits after the Covid-19 pandemic, along with improved transportation, will significantly impact tourism in Khanh Hoa. “Tourists will increasingly opt for less all-inclusive tour packages, instead traveling by private vehicle and booking accommodations closer to weekends and holidays. Road-based tours will also have an advantage over air travel… Therefore, businesses must adapt and prepare their workforce accordingly. Khanh Hoa tourism needs to ensure the quality of its services and implement solutions to create a civilized and friendly tourism environment… to attract visitors,” said Mr. Vo Quang Hoang.

XUAN THANH

Source link: https://baokhanhhoa.vn/du-lich/202305/cu-hich-cho-du-lich-khanh-hoa-c3e030d/