To make Hai Phong tourism a key economic sector

Reenactment of the military gathering on Luc Dau River at the Con Son - Kiep Bac autumn festival.
Photo: THANH CHUNG

Many advantages

With new development space, Hai Phong city now owns a rich tourism ecosystem: from cultural heritage, unique festivals, sea and island tourism, eco-tourism to community tourism, agriculture , craft villages, cuisine and inner-city tourism...

In particular, sea and island tourism is a prominent strength. Do Son has long been known as a famous tourist destination of the whole country. Cat Hai - the only sand island in the sea and coastal areas of Vietnam has its own unique features. In particular, Cat Ba archipelago with 388 large and small islands, of which Lan Ha Bay, one of the most beautiful bays in the world , is recognized by UNESCO as a world biosphere reserve.

With its wild beauty and rich ecosystem, Lan Ha Bay is becoming an attractive destination for international tourists, especially for those who love ecotourism and exploration.

Hai Phong is also a land rich in cultural and spiritual traditions. The city currently has 3,981 relics, including 9 special national relics, 257 national relics, 722 city relics and 33 national treasures. Hai Phong is also honored to own 2 intangible cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO: the art of Ca Tru and the practice of worshipping the Mother Goddess of the Three Realms. "Being recognized by UNESCO is an opportunity to open a new chapter of development for Hai Phong's heritages, and at the same time promote them widely to domestic and foreign friends," Mr. Vu Dinh Tien, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized.

Along with the traditional festival system, Hai Phong also creates more attraction thanks to modern festivals such as: Red Flamboyant Festival, Street Music Festival, Culinary Culture Week... contributing to diversifying tourism products. Tourism infrastructure is also continuously invested, with 15 major projects being implemented, total capital of more than 111,000 billion VND, gradually upgrading services, meeting the increasing needs of tourists.

Despite being heavily affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, during the 2020 - 2025 period, Hai Phong still maintains its attraction, becoming the choice of domestic and foreign tourists.

Unique beach golf course at Dragon Hill international tourist area. Photo: PHAN TUAN

Taking tourism to the next level

In 2016, Hai Phong set a target of turning tourism into a key economic sector by 2025, contributing 10% of the city's GRDP. Although the results have not been as expected, with natural advantages and cultural values, especially after the merger and expansion of administrative boundaries, Hai Phong tourism has favorable conditions to make a breakthrough.

In recent years, the Hai Phong City Party Committee has issued many resolutions on tourism development. This affirms that tourism is not only a short-term task but is identified as a key economic sector, playing an important role in the city's socio-economic structure.

The issuance of a thematic resolution means that the city mobilizes the entire political system, business community and people to participate in tourism development, considering this an important, comprehensive and synchronous task.

In the draft Political Report submitted to the City Party Congress for the 2025-2030 term, one of the four breakthrough strategies is to develop Hai Phong into a regional and international center for sea tourism, culture, and heritage; build unique tourism products associated with cultural identity, history, marine resources, agriculture, and rural areas.

To realize this strategy, the draft Political Report proposes many synchronous solutions: developing sea tourism, heritage and culture associated with international integration; effectively exploiting sea and island tourism resources and cultural heritage; building Cat Ba into a "green island", a high-class eco-resort destination; promoting the value of the Con Son - Kiep Bac World Heritage Site as an international cultural and spiritual tourism center.

The city also focuses on developing transport infrastructure, forming a chain of tourist spaces connecting Cat Ba - Do Son - Con Son - Kiep Bac, associated with the cultural values and identity of the Northern coastal region. At the same time, focusing on researching and proposing policies to open more international flights, strengthening connections with major tourist centers in the country and the region, making tourism an important driving force in socio-economic development, international integration...

Cat Ba, Do Son, Con Son - Kiep Bac are identified as important driving forces for developing green and sustainable tourism, spreading the image of a civilized, friendly and livable Port City.

TUAN LINH

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/de-du-lich-hai-phong-thanh-nganh-kinh-te-mui-nhon-520618.html