Khanh Hoa Tourism: Still "struggling" to find direction to build strategy

Despite having sponsors and consultants, the construction of Khanh Hoa Tourism Strategy after the province's merger is still slow to be implemented.

Lots of resources, little exploitation

Tourism is not only a service industry but also a comprehensive economic sector, playing an important role in socio-economic development. Tourism development helps generate revenue for the budget, attract investment capital, export local goods, and promote related economic sectors.

At the same time, it contributes to the implementation of the policy of hunger eradication and poverty reduction, job creation, and stable income for the people. Therefore, building a tourism development strategy is not only a need but also an urgent factor for Khanh Hoa to maintain its competitive advantage and long-term economic development.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Thanh - former Deputy Director of Khanh Hoa Province Tourism Promotion Information Center, the locality has many advantages in terms of beautiful islands, diverse culture, high-class resorts, and no shortage of resources to develop diverse types of tourism, but its potential has not yet been fully exploited.

Mr. Thanh believes that many island villages, ethnic minority villages, traditional craft villages, and historical relics, if preserved and connected into a chain of community tourism and heritage tourism products, will create a unique identity for the tourism industry. Up to this point, these opportunities are not clear and are still open.

"Tourism is not just about islands and resorts. Many tourists are disappointed when they visit craft villages such as mat weaving, agarwood weaving, etc. because the experience is not complete. Meanwhile, international tourists love to participate in the daily life of the locals. If they do not create unique experiences, they will only come once and then leave. Even when the number of visitors is large, it is not certain that the economy will be effective because they do not know where to spend their money, and it will be difficult for local people to have real income," Mr. Thanh emphasized.

At Bich Dam Island - an island included in the Community Tourism Development Project, but the people here are still "self-reliant". Ms. Duong Thi Tho - a resident on the island shared that the policy of developing community tourism for the people is still slow, there is no budget, causing many households who want to participate to increase their income to not be able to implement it properly: "We learn how to do tourism ourselves, welcome guests ourselves, guide ourselves, just hope that the policy will be implemented soon, so that people will receive more support conditions and develop in the right direction".

The community tourism model on Bich Dam Island is still unclear.

From the perspective of tourism businesses, a tourism development strategy cannot stop at increasing the number of visitors or opening more accommodation facilities, but must also consider service quality, environmental impact, and climate change, which are factors that contribute to determining the sustainability of the destination. If this cannot be predicted, in the long run, it will be difficult for the locality to attract investors and tourists.

Not to mention, the lack of night tourism products also makes the tourism industry lose its competitive advantage. After 9 p.m., the coastal city gradually becomes quiet, and entertainment activities are almost turned off. Ms. Le Thu (a tourist from Ho Chi Minh City) commented: "It is very lively during the day, but it is sad at night. Walking around the night market is also boring, the souvenirs are similar. There are a few bars but they are not suitable. There are no tourism products to attract visitors to the streets, shopping... I think Khanh Hoa tourism needs more activities to give visitors a reason to stay."

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is still "struggling" with its strategy.

Mr. Nguyen Long Bien, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee, has just continued to issue an official dispatch assigning the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCT) to preside over and coordinate with relevant agencies and units to advise on a draft report on the implementation of the tourism development strategy of Khanh Hoa province for the period 2025-2030, with a vision to 2045.

The Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to clarify the reasons for the delay in developing the strategy; in which, specify the responsibilities of relevant units, groups and individuals. At the same time, report on the progress of handling the above tasks up to the present time and the next implementation roadmap; report to the Provincial People's Committee before November 7.

The above request of Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee is to implement the conclusion of Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Standing Deputy Secretary Ho Xuan Truong at the Provincial Party Committee meeting in October 2025.

Specifically, the Standing Deputy Secretary of the Khanh Hoa Provincial Party Committee requested the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee to direct relevant agencies and units to urgently review and report on the implementation of tasks assigned by the Standing Committee and the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee that are still behind schedule. This includes the development of a Khanh Hoa tourism strategy according to the key and breakthrough tasks assigned by the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee in 2025.

As PNVN reported, Khanh Hoa Provincial People's Committee has sent three official dispatches requesting this Department to explain, review, and clarify the responsibilities of related individuals and organizations.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism then made an explanatory report. This explanation was not accepted by the Provincial People's Committee. To overcome this, the Department again made a review report and identified a number of solutions on October 23, specifically: Strengthening leadership, directing decisively and promptly, striving to complete tasks according to plan; strengthening flexible and close coordination with sponsors and consultants; clearly defining the responsibilities of each department under the Department in performing tasks, ensuring that the work is deployed closely, synchronously and effectively.

However, the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that the Department's report had not been clear and had not clearly demonstrated the review and acceptance of responsibility of the collective and individuals of the Department for the delay in signing the tripartite sponsorship contract. The Department needed to present a roadmap and specific measures to complete and submit to the Provincial Party Committee.

Source: https://phunuvietnam.vn/du-lich-khanh-hoa-van-loay-hoay-tim-huong-xay-dung-chien-luoc-20251106142209236.htm