Hai Phong aims to develop waterway tourism

The workshop aims to correctly assess the current situation, establish a scientific basis and provide directions and feasible solutions to build a project to develop waterway tourism in Hai Phong city in the coming period.

With a rich river system, more than 50 large and small rivers and 16 main river routes such as Bach Dang, Cam, Lach Tray, Van Uc, Thai Binh, etc., Hai Phong has clear natural advantages to develop waterway tourism . The rivers here are not only the lifeblood of trade, but also carry within them a proud cultural and historical depth.

From the time when female general Le Chan chose the land along the Cam River to establish An Bien village, to the glorious victories at Bach Dang River - the "most sacred and heroic river in Vietnam", Hai Phong's rivers have been closely associated with the history of building and defending the country of the nation.

Besides cultural and historical values, rivers also play a role in connecting coastal ecosystems, creating unique landscapes and opportunities to develop specific tourism products.

Hai Phong has a rich river system, more than 50 large and small rivers and 16 main rivers.

However, waterway tourism in Hai Phong is still at a rudimentary stage. Apart from the Cat Ba area, there are more than 200 means of transporting tourists, while other routes mainly serve passenger transport and are seasonal and spontaneous. The city currently has no specific river tourism products, lacking both basic infrastructure and synchronous development orientation.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and Hai Phong Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism chaired the conference.

The workshop pointed out four main groups that are hindering the development of Hai Phong river tourism: poor waterway infrastructure; existing ports and wharves are all for cargo transport, there is no international marina or specialized tourism port. Some rivers are still silted, have limited channels, and lack moorings at potential tourist destinations. Vingroup's Vu Yen marina project, although noteworthy, is small in scale, serving mainly local residents.

Next is the lack of a proper strategy, planning and development plan. Up to now, Hai Phong has not developed any specific project or plan for river tourism development. Current tourism activities are mainly spontaneous, fragmented, unconnected, with poor services and difficulty in creating long-term attraction.

Delegates discussing at the Workshop.

In addition, the river landscape has not been properly invested. Along the rivers there is still pollution, garbage, water hyacinth, lack of artistic lighting systems and impressive works for tourists. There is a lack of experience and discovery points along the river.

Waterway tourism not only takes place on the river surface, but also requires a service ecosystem on both banks, from cultural, historical, spiritual, and community sites to entertainment and resort spaces...

Based on the assessment of potential and current situation, experts, managers and businesses at the workshop highly agreed on four strategic orientations to develop waterway tourism in Hai Phong.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of Tourism Studies Department, University of Social Sciences and Humanities, spoke at the Workshop.

Hai Phong City needs to soon develop a master plan for developing waterway tourism, identifying key routes, stops, check-in points, and reception centers. At the same time, it is necessary to upgrade technical infrastructure, from dredging waterways, building wharves and piers to accompanying service systems such as restaurants, hotels, experience areas, riverside art lighting, etc.

Hai Phong needs to focus on products that exploit the cultural and historical depth associated with rivers; build river and sea tours connecting the inner city with Cat Ba; organize art shows on the water; design tourist boats in a unique style that reflects the identity of the port city. Each river must be a “vivid tourism product”, telling its own story, associated with diverse landscapes and experiences.

Hai Phong is the waterway traffic hub of the northern key economic region. Linking with Quang Ninh, Hai Duong, Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Ninh Binh, Thai Binh, etc. to form inter-provincial river tours will help enhance the experience for tourists, while contributing to the sustainable development of the regional economy.

Waterway tourism cannot develop if rivers are polluted. Therefore, Hai Phong city needs to have a policy to strictly control waste discharge, invest in wastewater treatment, collect garbage along the river, and plant trees to protect the banks. Green tourism, eco-tourism, and riverside communities need to be encouraged to both attract tourists and preserve the natural environment.

May Chai Wharf connects to Royal Island city - Vinhomes Royal Island Vu Yen.

The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Phong has identified itself as the focal point for developing and implementing policies for developing waterway tourism. This agency needs to soon issue a set of quality standards and licensing mechanisms for watercraft serving tourism, and at the same time organize periodic inspections and supervision in a professional, friendly, green and sustainable manner.

In addition, it is necessary to promote communication to promote the image of Hai Phong river tourism on digital platforms, organize riverside cultural festivals, strengthen public-private cooperation to call for investment from large corporations, creating momentum for the tourism industry to develop dramatically.

Dr. Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Phong city spoke at the Workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr. Tran Thi Hoang Mai, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hai Phong City emphasized: “Developing river tourism is a new and difficult problem, related to many industries and fields. However, with the support of experts, businesses and management agencies, we believe that in the near future, Hai Phong's rivers will be bustling with boats, becoming a key, unique and attractive tourism product for all visitors.”

Waterway tourism has great potential to become a new spearhead economic sector of Hai Phong. With proper planning, synchronous infrastructure, quality services and a protected environment, this cultural and economic flow will contribute to raising the position of the Port City as a green, civilized and modern coastal city, worthy of being the leading tourist center in the region.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/hai-phong-dinh-huong-phat-trien-du-lich-duong-thuy-post874383.html