Ninh Binh tourism is strongly reviving after a period of interruption due to the COVID-19 pandemic, gradually becoming a friendly and attractive destination chosen by many domestic and international tourists. However, Ninh Binh tourism industry cannot avoid seasonal factors in tourism activities. To stimulate tourism demand in the low season, in addition to applying simple preferential policies, Ninh Binh is focusing on promoting the value of local resources. Ninh Binh Newspaper reporter interviewed Mr. Pham Duy Phong, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism to clarify this issue.
Reporter (PV): Sir, the period from May to September every year is considered the low season for tourism. What do you think about the general situation of Ninh Binh tourism during this time?
Comrade Pham Duy Phong: From May to September, the climate is quite hot, so the flow of tourists tends to shift "from brown to white", that is, from the mountains and plains to the sea.
Ninh Binh is a locality with strengths in developing cultural and ecological tourism, so this time is considered the low tourist season of Ninh Binh in particular and some provinces developing cultural and ecological tourism in general.
The number of visitors to Ninh Binh cannot be compared to the peak season, the domestic tourist market is quieter due to changes in tourism demand. On the other hand, in the context of the world economic situation still having many difficulties, it has had a significant impact on international tourism. However, the good news is that in general, the number of visitors remains relatively stable, there is a decrease but not significantly.
PV : According to you, what challenges and opportunities does low season tourism bring to Ninh Binh tourism industry?
Mr. Pham Duy Phong : The biggest challenge is the reduction in the number of visitors due to the competition of many attractive tourism types at the same time. At the same time, due to limited financial resources, visitors will prioritize destinations that only appear once a year to take advantage of the opportunity to travel. However, the low season should not be considered just a difficult period but an opportunity to innovate, demonstrate uniqueness and service quality.
The advantages of traveling at this time are that there are no crowds, the travel space is airy, and airfares are cheap. In particular, some major events, programs, and tourism products are only available during the low season, typically the Ninh Binh Tourism Week event with a series of activities taking place annually in June.
Thereby, actively communicating and promoting on electronic information pages, digital platforms, creating buzz from major events to increase recognition, attracting a large number of visitors to Ninh Binh. This is an opportunity for tourism professionals to create new tourism products, promote tours and routes to attract tourists, and expand customer base. Especially this season, for agencies and businesses, it is the right time to organize MICE tourism (conference and seminar tourism).
MICE tourism is considered a stimulus solution for the sluggish tourism season. In addition, Ninh Binh has all the elements and conditions of nature, people, and infrastructure to strongly develop forms of tourism combined with traditional education, cultural, historical, and ecological exploration, weekend resort tourism associated with health care, spiritual and cultural tourism, festivals, etc. to meet all the needs of domestic visitors.
On the other hand, for international tourists, focusing on European, American and some Southeast Asian countries, the development of experiential tours and nature-based tourism is expected to grow rapidly, paving the way for many new tourist streams.
After the COVID-19 pandemic, the habit of traveling in groups has also changed to small groups and family groups traveling by personal vehicles, while the highway system to Ninh Binh is relatively complete, shortening the travel routes, the geographical location of the province is close to major city centers such as Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh ... creating favorable conditions for tourists to solve the problem of transportation costs. In particular, to better support tourists from afar, Ninh Binh has coordinated with Vietnam Railways Corporation to build preferential ticket routes, thanks to which, in recent times, the number of tourists traveling to Ninh Binh by train has increased.
PV : To "heat up" low season tourism and seize existing opportunities, what adaptive solutions does Ninh Binh tourism need to attract tourists, sir?
Mr. Pham Duy Phong : Compared to previous years, seasonality has been gradually limited and overcome through specific activities. Stimulating tourism demand in the low season by applying preferential policies is an old method. The best solution to overcome the seasonality of tourism is to promote the values of local resources, especially cultural and historical values, through promotion. The form of promotion is through organizing cultural and sports events at the provincial level.
Recently, Ninh Binh has successfully organized many major events such as: The 10th anniversary of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Ninh Binh Tourism Week 2024 with the theme "The Golden Color of Tam Coc - Trang An", International Scientific Conference with the theme "Promoting the role and value of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex in building a Millennium Heritage City and connecting with heritage cities around the world...".
It is expected that next September, the 2024 Hot Air Balloon and Paragliding Festival will be held for the first time in Ninh Binh, and the International Food Festival with the participation of provinces in the Red River Delta region...
In addition, promote through media, increase tourism coverage on digital platforms Youtube, Tiktok. Build a Youtube channel to promote cuisine, Ninh Binh tourism, tourism promotion news... The industry focuses on creating policies to support the development of new tourism products such as: MICE tourism (conference and seminar tourism), experiential tourism, night tourism, concretizing cultural products into tourism products to provide to tourists in accordance with the development orientation of the cultural industrial tourism industry. Participate in domestic and international fairs to contact and connect service providers.
The sector has advised the Provincial People's Council and People's Committee to issue policies to support organizations, individuals and individual households participating in tourism services in the whole province, contributing to the completion of tourism infrastructure, synchronizing tourism facilities, and upgrading service quality. Continue to train tourism human resources to be increasingly professional, multi-talented, and grasp the needs and interests of each target customer group.
Along with that, businesses need to have a cooperation mechanism, agree on public and transparent prices, and ensure quality. With the spirit of solidarity and the efforts of the entire industry, Ninh Binh tourism will certainly make great strides, "reach the finish line" of all set goals and aim for even higher results in 2024.
PV : Thank you, comrade!
Lan Anh (performed)
Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/du-lich-mua-thap-diem-tim-thoi-co-trong-thach-thuc/d20240705085012597.htm
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