Island tourism skyrockets during April 30-May 1 holidays

Tourist boats are busy taking visitors to Ha Long Bay.

In Ha Long Bay, many cruise ships cannot accept more guests. Room occupancy has been between 80-90% since mid-April. During the 5-day holiday, room occupancy of many units has reached 100%.

According to ship owners, domestic tourists seeking cruise services increased by 15-20% compared to the same period last year and accounted for about 60% of the total number of tourists booking tours. In particular, in the past 3 years, many restaurant and cruise ships have been invested synchronously, not only providing delicious meals but also music parties, eye-catching lighting, creating diverse experiences for tourists. For daytime sightseeing ships, the number of tourists also increased, with capacity reaching 70-90%, maintained during the 5-day holiday.

On April 30, Ha Long Bay welcomed nearly 16,400 visitors, double the number compared to normal days, including about 6,500 international visitors.

Ms. Hiraizumi Shiori, a Japanese tourist, shared: We learned about Ha Long through social networking sites and when we arrived here, we were surprised by the extremely beautiful natural scenery and convenient transportation. In particular, the ships were all very large, beautiful and modern, we had memorable experiences here.

Thousands of tourists flock to the pearl island of Co To.

At the Ao Tien High-class Port area, the number of visitors to the islands of Co To, Quan Lan, Minh Chau (Van Don) increased dramatically. It is estimated that on the first day of the holiday, there were nearly 16,000 visitors passing through the port, 152 ships taking visitors to the islands. Of which, the number of visitors to Co To reached nearly 10,000.

In order to meet the increasing travel demand during the peak tourist season, especially during holidays such as April 30 - May 1, Co To district and relevant agencies have proactively implemented many solutions to enhance transport capacity and traffic coordination, ensuring safety and convenience for tourists. Some trains to Co To have increased trips per day, flexibly adjusting schedules according to passenger traffic. At the same time, local authorities have coordinated with shipping companies to implement measures to ensure safety, control train tickets and service prices, and avoid overloading or profiteering. In Co To, the electric car system and passenger transport vehicles have been increased in number, and additional pick-up and drop-off points have been arranged at key tourist areas. In addition, the pilot organization of water-based entertainment activities and visits to newly exploited islands has contributed to creating more options for exploration , thereby enhancing the value of sea and island tourism experiences for tourists.

Tourists wait to buy tickets at Ao Tien High-class Port. Photo taken on April 30, 2025, provided by the unit.

To welcome the increased number of visitors, the port unit has implemented many solutions since the beginning of April. According to Mr. Ta Duc Quyen, Executive Director of Ao Tien International Port, to welcome the peak tourist season, we have developed a methodical plan to welcome visitors, regularly check, maintain and upgrade equipment at the port such as: Wharf, passenger pick-up and drop-off system, security system, ticketing system, ticket control... to ensure the ability to receive ships and passengers safely. In addition, we have improved convenient services for passengers, enhanced customer service, trained professional staff, handled situations and guided customers. Along with that, to welcome the increased number of visitors, we also have contingency plans, applied technology in management and increased the experience for visitors.

It can be seen that the weather factor also contributes to influencing the trend of tourists choosing destinations. The weather during the holiday season remains at 23-30 degrees Celsius, dry, quite hot and stuffy, making tourists prioritize going to island tourist areas. In addition, convenient traffic infrastructure with fast connecting highways helps Quang Ninh's island routes to be chosen by many tourists. From now until the peak summer tourist season of 2025, the number of visitors to Quang Ninh's island routes is forecasted to continue to increase sharply.

To meet the needs and improve the quality of services for tourists, in the second quarter of 2025, localities are expected to put into operation many new, unique and attractive tourism products, in order to create more highlights for local tourism. Specifically: Van Don district develops community eco-tourism with the activity "A day as a fisherman" and explores the culture and history of Ngoc Vung island; at the same time, put into operation the night market in Sonasea Van Don Harbour City. In Hai Ha, tourists can experience kayaking, take a cruise ship to visit and explore Cai Chien island commune. In addition, about 30 newly built ships will be put into operation on the island routes, to help tourists move conveniently, have richer and more novel experiences.

Hoang Quynh

Source: https://baoquangninh.vn/bung-no-du-lich-bien-dao-dip-nghi-le-30-4-1-5-3355956.html