Improve the quality of tourism services

With the policy of developing sustainable and inclusive tourism in Quang Ninh on the basis of green growth, the province has always focused on improving the quality of tourism services in the area; developing in a professional, modern, focused and key direction. Ha Long City is a key tourism area of ​​the province. Since the beginning of June, when the number of tourists has increased rapidly, a number of social networking sites have appeared with a lot of negative information, reflecting on the local tourism business environment. In which, focusing on the content: The appearance of some restaurants and tourist boats providing poor quality services, overcharging prices; illegal taxis and electric cars operating to solicit tourists; bad attitudes of service staff towards tourists... causing frustration for tourists and affecting the tourism image of the city. The Steering Committee for Tourism Development and Management of Ha Long City held a meeting to rectify the tourism business environment in the city (June 17, 2024). Photo: Hoang Nga Faced with that situation, the People's Committee of Ha Long City issued a document directing departments, offices, forces, communes and wards in the area to focus on rectify the tourism business environment. Along with that, on June 22, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee had a program to inspect the actual situation of tourism activities in Ha Long City. Not only in Ha Long, improving the quality of tourism services in the province in recent times has always had the active participation of all levels, sectors and localities. Right from the beginning of the year, the Provincial People's Committee directed the development and promulgation of a thematic plan on tourism with 186 programs and events to stimulate tourism; striving to attract at least 17 million visitors in 2024, including 3 million international visitors. At the same time, the province also strengthens state management of festivals, beliefs and religions, associated with promoting tourist attraction during the spring and throughout 2024; improves the effectiveness of management, protection and promotion of the value of the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay; completes the Project on tourism development in Quang Ninh province to 2030, with a vision to 2045; focuses on developing tourism products associated with distinct local values, such as: Ha Long Bay tourism, Bai Tu Long Bay, Yen Tu National Special Relic Site... Grand Pioneers 2 cruise ship operating the "Heritage Journey" route connecting Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay is one of the new tourism products of Quang Ninh in 2024. Photo: Nguyen Thom Notably, in February, the province successfully organized a conference to promote, advertise and attract tourism investment on the occasion of the Clipper Race 2023-2024 season coming to Ha Long; organized an exhibition introducing COMAC Group's aircraft at Van Don International Airport... In 13 districts, towns and cities of the province, there are 12 localities recognized as tourist routes and destinations, with 33 routes and 91 tourist destinations. In the province, there are 1,654 tourist accommodation establishments with 33,593 rooms classified, including 108 3-5 star hotels. There are 24 restaurants meeting standards for serving tourists, 27 businesses meeting standards for serving tourists, 1 entertainment spot serving tourists, 12 tourist beaches. The system of tourist accommodation facilities in Quang Ninh has developed in both quantity and quality, with the presence of many high-class hotel management groups, such as: Inter Continental, Accor, Wyndham Legend, Novotel, Best Western International, Muong Thanh, Sun Group , Vingroup... Tourist accommodation ships and restaurant ships are invested in high quality, considered a typical tourism product of Quang Ninh. Wyndham Garden Sonasea Van Don Resort will be put into operation from April 2024, creating a highlight for Quang Ninh tourism. Photo: Nguyen Thom Along with that, the whole province has 133 travel companies and branches; including 96 international travel businesses, 24 domestic travel businesses, and 13 travel branches. Means of transportation serving tourism are also abundant, ensuring quality with nearly 500 cruise ships, of which 200 ships have accommodation facilities with 1,900 rooms and 3,800 beds; tourist cars have about 250 vehicles with 7,500 seats. The province also mobilizes large resources to invest in synchronous and modern tourism infrastructure such as traffic infrastructure, cruise ship ports, resorts, etc. At the same time, it creates diverse and unique tourism products. The market and supermarket system continues to be invested in synchronously and modernly, serving well tourism activities in the area. The tourism development space in the province is expanded, with a focus and key points, associated with environmental protection, landscape preservation, conservation and promotion of heritage values. The province has deployed 62 new tourism products into operation in 2024, such as: Ha Long Carnival Festival 2024; Lighthouse entertainment complex; high-class, high-quality cruise services put into operation connecting Ha Long Bay - Bai Tu Long Bay; Wyndham Garden Sonasea resort in Sonasea Van Don Harbor City Complex... contributing to increasing the experience, extending the length of stay, increasing the spending capacity of tourists, gradually turning Quang Ninh into a "Wonder of Four Seasons" destination. Thanks to that, in the first 6 months of the year, the service and tourism industry of the province continued to grow strongly. The total number of tourists to Quang Ninh reached more than 10.4 million, an increase of 18% over the same period in 2023; of which, international visitors are estimated to reach nearly 2 million. Total tourism revenue in the first 6 months of 2024 reached VND 22,285 billion, an increase of 34% over the same period.