Workshop "Solutions to attract international visitors to Thanh Hoa"

(Baothanhhoa.vn) - On the morning of August 9, at Hai Tien Marine Eco-tourism Area, the Provincial Tourism Association held a workshop on "Solutions to attract international visitors to Thanh Hoa".

An overview of the workshop.

Attending the workshop were Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration; representatives from the Vietnam Tourism Association; the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; the Provincial Tourism and Culture Promotion Center; and representatives from over 100 travel and tourism businesses nationwide, as well as tourism experts.

In his opening remarks at the workshop, a representative from the Provincial Tourism Association emphasized that Thanh Hoa has great potential for tourism development, with outstanding advantages in geographical location, natural landscapes, cultural heritage, and hospitable people. Along with this, the tourism infrastructure and facilities are increasingly being invested in comprehensively. In recent years, Thanh Hoa has consistently ranked among the top provinces nationwide in attracting tourists. Although tourism is growing positively, the number of international tourists remains very modest, accounting for only 4.2-4.7% of the total number of visitors to Thanh Hoa annually.

The Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association delivered the opening remarks at the workshop.

Given this reality, implementing long-term strategies, flexible promotion, and focusing on attracting international tourists is truly necessary. The goal is to enhance Thanh Hoa's position on the international tourism map, aiming for sustainable growth and becoming an attractive, friendly, and safe destination. The workshop also provides an opportunity for businesses, management agencies, and experts to connect and cooperate more closely, working together to build a more professional and deeply integrated image of Thanh Hoa tourism.

Representatives from the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, presented their papers at the conference.

At the workshop, many opinions from travel businesses and tourism experts focused on analyzing current international tourism trends; the capacity to welcome and serve international tourists; comparisons and lessons learned from various localities... The role of digital technology in attracting and reaching tourists was particularly emphasized.

A representative from the Ninh Binh Provincial Tourism Association delivered a presentation.

Representatives from several tourism companies believe that Thanh Hoa needs to change its mindset and innovate its solutions to attract international tourists. First, it should invest heavily in online promotional platforms, creating high-quality digital publications in multiple languages ​​to showcase the local tourism image on social media channels, international tour booking platforms, and specialized media systems; and organize famtrip programs to attract the participation of travel agencies specializing in receiving international tourists. In addition, it needs to develop more experiential tourism products and community-based tourism linked to local elements, preserving and promoting traditional cultural values, creating a unique identity compared to other destinations in the region.

Ms. Vuong Thi Hai Yen, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province, delivered a speech acknowledging the feedback at the workshop.

Speaking at the workshop, Mr. Pham Van Thuy, Deputy Director of the National Tourism Administration, highly appreciated the achievements of Thanh Hoa tourism in recent years. He also stated that, regarding solutions to attract international tourists, there are three key issues that need to be discussed and effectively addressed: transportation connectivity, immigration procedures, and the management of foreigners in the area; meeting the supply and demand dynamics of economic activity; and ensuring that the "demand" factor in a market economy activates demand for unique products or those following international trends.

Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration, Pham Van Thuy, delivered a keynote address at the workshop.

The comrade suggested that the Thanh Hoa Provincial Tourism Association and tourism businesses focus on the following specific issues: Upgrading Tho Xuan Airport to an international airport as soon as possible, while also paying attention to developing a synchronized transportation infrastructure system connecting destinations within and outside the province; Developing products suitable for the international market, focusing on products that align with the three main international tourism market groups: Europe (including North America), Asia-Pacific (including Australia), and India-Middle East, and consistent with current trends such as green tourism, community-based tourism linked to cultural industries, and MICE tourism; More effectively linking with international media channels to convey the attractive message of Thanh Hoa tourism to key and potential international markets. This will contribute to making Vietnam a particularly attractive destination for international tourists, in collaboration with other localities nationwide.

Hoai Anh

Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/hoi-thao-giai-phap-thu-hut-khach-quoc-te-den-thanh-hoa-257440.htm