A regular destination for international accolades.
A recent research report by The Post Office (UK) indicates that Hoi An tops the ranking of the world's most affordable long-distance travel destinations.
According to The Post Office, airfare for a long-distance trip can be quite expensive, but the cost of accommodation, food, or sightseeing in Hoi An is quite reasonable and well worth considering for tourists.
The top 10 of this ranking mostly consists of popular destinations, including several in Southeast Asia such as Bali (Indonesia), Penang (Malaysia), and Phuket (Thailand). This demonstrates that Hoi An's appeal is no less than that of the region's leading destinations. Specifically, in 2024, Hoi An welcomed 4.5 million international tourists.
Notably, this is the second time in just three years (the previous time was in 2023) that Hoi An has topped this ranking. Being consistently featured in the Post Office's ranking report will undoubtedly help Hoi An attract a large number of international tourists.
Concerns arising from honor
Unlike other accolades, Hoi An's repeated inclusion in the Post Office's ranking of most affordable destinations raises certain concerns. With its relatively small area and vulnerable heritage sites and natural resources, welcoming 4-5 million international tourists annually is already a huge burden for Hoi An's carrying capacity.
Concerned about becoming a "cheap destination" and experiencing localized overcrowding, in recent years, local authorities have taken steps to disperse tourists to the outskirts of the city and tighten ticket controls for visiting the ancient town. According to Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc, Deputy Director of the Hoi An Cultural Heritage Conservation Center, the entrance fee to Hoi An Ancient Town is among the cheapest in Vietnam's World Heritage sites, yet there is significant revenue loss due to its status as a "living heritage site," making ticket control very difficult.
Among the six key areas associated with the six growth drivers of Da Nang city, the development of high-quality tourism and services, linked with the preservation and promotion of revolutionary traditions and cultural heritage, has been identified as an attractive destination for the world.
According to Mr. Nguyen Son Thuy, Director of Duy Nhat Indochina Tourism Co., Ltd., with the continuous recognition it has received, the increasing number of international tourists visiting Hoi An is inevitable, and we need to embrace this instead of only selecting high-end tourists.
"It's crucial that stakeholders implement solutions in a coordinated manner to maximize benefits while minimizing impacts on the heritage. For an area like Hoi An Ancient Town, applying modern digital technology will address the issue of revenue loss from ticket sales and manage visitor flow to reduce overcrowding. The question is whether we are bold enough to implement it thoroughly," Mr. Thuy said.
Source: https://baodanang.vn/hai-mat-cua-vinh-danh-diem-den-3306697.html
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