With its diverse culture and natural beauty, cultural tourism in Thanh Hoa province is becoming an attractive "springtime destination" for visitors from near and far. During the recent Lunar New Year holiday alone, the province welcomed approximately 675,000 visitors, mainly concentrated at cultural, historical, and spiritual tourist sites, demonstrating the strong appeal of this type of tourism.
From the very first days of the Lunar New Year of the Snake (2015), cultural, historical, and spiritual tourist destinations in the province, such as the Ho Dynasty Citadel World Heritage Site (Vinh Loc), the Lam Kinh National Special Historical Site (Tho Xuan), the Nua Temple - Am Tien National Historical and Cultural Site (Trieu Son), the Phu Na Cultural and Scenic Site (Nhu Thanh), and the Doc Cuoc Temple National Special Site ( Sam Son City)... have attracted thousands of visitors every day. For many, this is a spring pilgrimage through heritage sites, to nourish the soul and pray for good things in the new year.
At the Phu Na cultural and scenic site, Mr. Vu Ngoc Tuyen from Hau Loc district said: “At the beginning of spring, my family and friends often go to the temple to pray for good health and success in work in the new year. This is also my first time visiting Phu Na, but thanks to the loudspeaker system introducing the site, we understand more about the destination and the Mother Goddess worship here.”
Reportedly, from the first day of the Lunar New Year to the tenth day of the first lunar month, the site welcomed approximately 120,000 visitors. To ensure effective reception and service, the Management Board of the historical site established seven subcommittees to oversee security, traffic safety, and food hygiene. This year, all stalls within the site were moved outside the main gate, and specific sales areas were designated to create space for visitors to explore and shop. Additionally, warning signs were placed around the temples and walkways to encourage visitors to be vigilant and protect their personal belongings; free drinking water and seating areas were also provided.
According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, from the first day of the Lunar New Year until now, cultural and spiritual destinations in the province have recorded an increase in the number of visitors compared to the same period last year. This is partly due to the extended Tet holiday, coupled with favorable weather. In addition, some destinations have organized many cultural exchange activities, artistic performances, and folk games at the beginning of the spring season to provide visitors with attractive experiences.
According to Duong Duc Hung, Director of the Sam Son City Center for Culture, Information, Sports and Tourism: “From the first day of Tet (Lunar New Year) until now, the number of visitors to Doc Cuoc Temple, Co Tien Temple, and To Hien Thanh Temple has been very high. Each day, these destinations welcome and serve about 2,000 visitors who come to offer incense and admire the scenery. This year, we have set up check-in points for tourists at all destinations. This contributes to giving tourists a new perspective on cultural and spiritual tourism, while also promoting and positioning the destination's brand.”
For travel businesses, the spring travel season is also the first peak tourist season of the new year. According to the Provincial Travel Association, nearly 80% of bookings are currently for tours exploring cultural and spiritual destinations. Therefore, along with the destinations themselves, all travel agencies must strive to ensure the quality of service. Meanwhile, in addition to domestic tourists, the number of tourists from other provinces who have booked services to Thanh Hoa from now until mid-February (lunar calendar) is expected to increase by about 10-15% compared to the same period in 2024. However, the large number of tourists at this time is creating a difficult problem for many businesses due to the shortage of transportation and tour guides. Therefore, tourists planning spring trips should book services early so that travel agencies can proactively prepare and ensure quality service.
The Thanh Hoa festival season continues with many cultural, sports, and tourism activities being organized. Therefore, strict management is necessary to ensure that each cultural tourism destination leaves a positive impression on visitors. Furthermore, every citizen and visitor attending the festivals must strictly adhere to the rules and regulations of the destination, and behave respectfully at places of worship. In particular, they should not support superstitious practices, and should work together to maintain order and environmental cleanliness, so that the spring pilgrimage to Thanh Hoa truly brings joy to everyone.
Text and photos: Hoai Anh
Source: https://baothanhhoa.vn/mua-du-lich-van-hoa-239647.htm
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