Enhancing the quality of tourism in Hai Phong.

tourist17 — Tourists visiting Viet Hai village, Cat Ba island. Photo: TRUNG KIEN

In 2025, Hai Phong city is expected to welcome 14.5 million tourists, generating total revenue exceeding 15,000 billion VND. This means each tourist will spend an average of approximately 1.1 million VND per visit. This figure is considered quite low compared to many other localities with similar advantages.

In 2026, the city's tourism sector aims to attract over 16 million visitors. Importantly, alongside attracting a large number of tourists, the quality of these visitors is a crucial factor to consider.

Looking at neighboring Quang Ninh province reveals a significant gap between the two. By 2025, Quang Ninh province's tourism industry is expected to attract 21.2 million visitors, generating a total revenue of 57,000 billion VND. The average spending per visitor to the mining region is projected at approximately 2.7 million VND, reflecting a trend of increasing both quantity and quality.

The journey to shift from quantity to quality in the tourism industry will be a long one. But without a starting point and a clear plan, it's unclear when the current situation of high tourist numbers, low revenue, and environmental impact will end.

Hai Phong possesses numerous advantages for tourism development, with Cat Ba being the only place in Vietnam to boast seven national and international titles. Alongside it are Do Son, Long Chau Island, Bach Long Vi, etc., creating a brand of resort tourism. In terms of cultural resources, Hai Phong has nearly 4,000 historical sites, thousands of festivals, rich cuisine, and a unique port city identity. In particular, the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son - Kiet Bac complex of historical sites and scenic spots has been recognized as a World Heritage Site, making it a potential international center for cultural and spiritual tourism.

The city's accommodation system is receiving increasing attention and investment. The entire city currently has 19 4-5 star hotels capable of hosting regional and international events and conferences.

The Resolution of the First City Party Congress, term 2025-2030, identifies the focus on effectively exploiting marine and island tourism resources and unique cultural heritage, making tourism a key economic sector of the city…

For tourism to truly become a key economic sector, Hai Phong needs to pursue a sustainable development orientation, improving both quality and quantity. Because in the context of fierce competition among destinations, without improving the quality of service, experiences, scenic value, and environment, it will be difficult to expect tourists to increase spending and visit more often.

To achieve this, the city's tourism industry needs to quickly reposition the Hai Phong tourism brand based on the global and unique values of its heritage system, with the Cat Ba archipelago - Lan Ha Bay and Con Son - Kiet Bac as strategic pillars.

Focus on developing distinctive, high-quality tourism products, concentrating on high-end beach and island tourism, heritage-cultural-spiritual tourism, urban tourism linked to the night-time economy, MICE tourism (tourism combining seminars, conferences, events, and incentives), river tourism, and eco-agricultural tourism; and golf tourism.

Developing tourism products that combine music, sports, and events, and building Hai Phong into a City of Music.

Further strengthen the promotion and marketing of tourism products in a specialized direction and increase the number of high-spending tourists from potential markets such as Europe and the Middle East.

The city is interested in maintaining and expanding international flight routes and airlines to Hai Phong via Cat Bi International Airport. Currently, Cat Bi Airport only operates four international routes, which is a very modest number.

MINH KHOI

Source: https://baohaiphong.vn/nang-chat-du-lich-hai-phong-534391.html