Kick-off of the summer travel season.

In preparation for the upcoming summer tourist season and the longer-term goal of "developing tourism into a key economic sector of the province," many practical activities have been coordinated and implemented by all levels of government and relevant agencies to actively promote and showcase the friendly image of Thai Binh tourism to domestic and international tourists.

International tourists experience the products at Nam Cao Silk Weaving Cooperative (Kien Xuong).

Applying digital technology in tourism promotion.

In March 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism organized a conference to launch an online booth on the province's smart tourism portal. Tours, routes, tourist destinations, travel agencies, and accommodation establishments from all localities in the province were promoted and introduced here, contributing to creating a colorful and comprehensive picture of domestic tourism in the province.

Introducing the e-commerce platform implemented on the smart tourism portal, Mr. Truong Van Cuong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: This is one of the utilities provided to users with the goal of becoming a reputable and reliable e-commerce platform, a bridge between consumers and tourism service providers in Thai Binh. Specifically, tourists who want to book tours can search for information, choose, and connect with travel companies directly on the smart tourism portal. Tourists who want to stay and book rooms in Thai Binh can also do so directly on the "Accommodation" platform, search for information about hotels, view images and videos of different room types at various price levels, and book rooms easily and conveniently. The smart tourism portal has a user-friendly interface to encourage and support tourism service businesses, specifically travel companies and hotels in the province, to participate in building e-commerce platforms. This will maximize customer reach and increase revenue. Conversely, both domestic and international tourists can easily access information on tour programs, room types, and room rates that are constantly updated, public, and transparent, aiming for the most convenient trip possible.

Mr. Vu Manh Thang, Chairman of the Provincial Tourism Association, assessed: Digitizing all information about domestic tourism and uploading it to the Smart Tourism Portal to provide to tourists is a very timely implementation aimed at promoting the most diverse and comprehensive tourism products of Thai Binh. The current trend is that everyone is searching for information on digital platforms, many transactions are made online, especially with foreign tourists, where the use of online services is almost 100%.

As one of the businesses that quickly connected and created a booth on the Smart Tourism Portal, Mr. Tran Minh Hai, Director of Son Hai Tourism Company, shared: "To encourage tourists to actively use online services, in addition to providing many images of tours on the Portal to help tourists easily grasp information and choose suitable itineraries, we will have appropriate promotional programs and discounts. These will be special programs aimed at students with itineraries experiencing historical and cultural relics and famous craft villages in the province. Through the trip, they will better understand, love, and be proud of the landmarks in their homeland."

Focus on developing tourism spaces and products.

The province currently offers various types of tourism: beach tourism, ecotourism; cultural and spiritual tourism; community tourism, and tourism focusing on agricultural products and traditional crafts. According to statistics, the province's tourism business has made significant progress, with the number of tourists and social income from tourism continuing to increase over the years. In 2023, the number of tourists increased by 15.5% compared to 2022, reaching an estimated 815,000 visitors and generating an estimated revenue of 500 billion VND. Besides the Con Den ecotourism area (Thai Thuy district), whose planning, investment policy, and project implementation have been approved by the Provincial People's Committee, the Con Vanh - Con Thu urban, tourism, resort, and golf course area (Tien Hai district) has also had its zoning plan adjusted at a scale of 1/2,000. The Thai Thuy mangrove forest ecotourism area has received funding for surveys and the preparation of a detailed planning project, laying the groundwork for the formation of a unique ecotourism area and creating a foundation for the development of the province's tourism industry. Furthermore, the general planning for the Thai Binh Economic Zone includes a development orientation for concentrated urban, tourism, and service areas covering 3,110 hectares, attracting many investors to fund planning and research for tourism projects.

Ecotourism and experiential tourism tours for students are receiving increasing attention.

Mr. Vu Trung Kien, Director of Minh Phu Trading and Service Co., Ltd., the unit managing Con Den eco-tourism area, shared: "Ready for the April 30th and May 1st holidays as well as this year's summer beach tourism season, Con Den eco-tourism area has increased investment in modern facilities, improved environmental hygiene, and made some positive changes to serve tourists, such as adding an area for experiencing clam harvesting activities right next to the embankment of the eco-tourism area, increasing the number of functional forces on duty regularly, and adding more signs in the beach area to ensure the safety of tourists..."

The involvement of relevant agencies and the efforts of increasingly friendly and attractive tourist destinations are important prerequisites for the development of tourism within the province. With diverse destinations offering various types of tourism, it is hoped that with proper attention and investment, Thai Binh tourism will have ample opportunities to welcome tourists from both within and outside the province for sightseeing and relaxation.