Lao Cai: To make tourism a spearhead economic sector

The merger of Lao Cai and Yen Bai provinces into the new Lao Cai province not only has administrative and organizational significance, but also represents a “restructuring of development space” at the regional scale, creating conditions for Lao Cai to reshape its long-term growth strategy. In particular, tourism is identified as a key economic sector, a pillar for developing a green economy, preserving culture and creating sustainable livelihoods for the people.

After the merger, Lao Cai possesses a particularly rich tourism resource system, diverse in types, outstanding in identity, unique in landscape. From famous destinations such as: Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Y Ty of Lao Cai (old), now there are also Mu Cang Chai, Suoi Giang, Van Chan, Tram Tau, Yen Binh - special tourism symbols of Yen Bai (old).

This combination creates a complete, interconnected and mutually supportive tourism ecosystem, capable of meeting modern tourism trends: short-term, green experiences, exploring indigenous cultures, resorts and community tourism .

In fact, in just the first 6 months of the year, Lao Cai welcomed 7.3 million visitors, earning over VND21,130 billion in revenue - a very impressive figure. In particular, the domestic tourist market is clearly shifting with short trips following the "circle" model becoming increasingly popular, helping to redistribute the flow of visitors, reduce the load on traditional destinations, and at the same time activate the "attraction" for new destinations.

However, great opportunities also come with great challenges. The problem now is how to turn advantages into strengths, potential into products and demand into sustainable revenue.

Currently, most localities and new destinations in the province are still developing tourism spontaneously, lacking regional connectivity and lacking the guidance of strategic planning. The transport infrastructure system is not yet synchronized, accommodation and culinary services are few and the quality of human resources is not commensurate. More worryingly, many destinations are still only at the level of "having landscapes" but have not created "deep experiences". Lack of tourism stories, lack of activities connecting culture - people - products, causing visitors' stay to be very short, and low economic spillover.

Therefore, it is necessary to view tourism development not only as a single economic sector but as a comprehensive value system, including: infrastructure, people, technology, culture and local identity.

Each locality in the province needs to clearly define its role in the regional tourism value chain: destination, service center, human resources, specialty raw material areas... Only then will development be harmonious, without overlap, and without "each doing their own thing".

One of the breakthroughs that needs to be implemented immediately is digital transformation in tourism. This is no longer a trend but has become a competitive standard in the new era. The digitization of destination data, electronic tourism maps, mobile applications to support tourists, cashless payments, service feedback management, etc. need to be integrated synchronously and put into practical operation.

Along with that, training and retraining of tourism human resources, from managers, tour guides, to people working in community tourism, must become a long-term strategy.

Only when people truly understand that they are the subjects in tourism development can they build quality products that are strong enough to attract tourists. The model of “each village is a destination, each family is a subject in tourism” is not just a slogan but needs to become a specific action program, with guidance, training, investment, and quality supervision.

Affirming this determination, Mr. Nong Viet Yen - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lao Cai province said: Lao Cai province will prioritize focusing resources to develop tourism into a breakthrough spearhead economic sector and increasingly account for a high proportion in the province's GRDP structure, associated with local socio-economic development, creating a driving force to strongly promote the development of other sectors and fields. At the same time, innovate the tourism growth model based on the green growth platform; preserve and promote national cultural identity, preserve landscapes and protect the ecological environment, strengthen domestic and international linkages and cooperation in tourism and apply digital transformation in tourism development in a truly practical and effective manner. This is not only an orientation but also a call to action...

Lao Cai has all the necessary conditions: resources, location, market, policies and political determination. What is lacking is the strong participation of the entire political system - businesses - people. After the merger, if we know how to clear bottlenecks, invest in the right areas, and develop in the right depth, Lao Cai will not only be an "attractive destination" but also a "sustainable tourism center" of the entire midland and mountainous region of the North in the coming years.

According to Lao Cai newspaper

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/lao-cai-de-du-lich-tro-thanh-nganh-kinh-te-mui-nhon-20250721103153291.htm