Efforts to restore tourism after storm No. 3

Floods caused by the circulation of storm No. 3 (Yagi) in September 2024 severely affected the transport infrastructure and safety conditions of tourist areas and spots in the province. Up to now, the province's tourism has been effectively restoring activities in accordance with actual conditions, attracting and welcoming back visitors.

Tourism suffers heavy damage after storm No. 3

According to statistics from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DOCST), in the first 9 months of 2024, the total number of tourists was over 1,508,700, an increase of 1.2% over the same period in 2023, reaching 68.6% of the plan. Of which, international visitors were 33,175, an increase of 49.8% over the same period, reaching 33.2% of the plan; domestic visitors were 1,475,566, an increase of 0.5% over the same period, reaching 70.3% of the plan. Total tourism revenue reached VND 1,160 billion, an increase of 13.2% over the same period, reaching 77.3% of the plan; room occupancy rate reached 47.7%. These are optimistic signals showing the attraction of Cao Bang to tourists, especially international tourists.

Ban Gioc waterfall tourist area, Dam Thuy commune (Trung Khanh) quickly recovered and welcomed visitors back right after storm No. 3.

However, entering September, the time when Cao Bang is in its most beautiful season, when tourism is on the rise, many attractive cultural and tourism activities and products are deployed by the tourism industry, cultural, artistic and festival activities are elaborately built to attract tourists in the last months of 2024, the devastation of storm No. 3 has caused great damage, affecting all aspects, traffic is cut off, accommodation facilities and tourism activities have to be temporarily suspended. Most of the tourist areas and spots in the province are affected, many homestays are severely damaged in terms of facilities; historical relics are subsided and at risk of serious landslides. The number of customers booking tours and rooms in September were all canceled and postponed, revenue decreased by about 50% compared to August. In September, Cao Bang welcomed only over 104,800 tourists, down 51% compared to August, down 58% compared to the same period in 2023. Of which, international tourists decreased by 39.2%, domestic tourists decreased by 51.4% compared to August. Total tourism revenue reached 85 billion VND, down 52% compared to August, down 54% compared to the same period in 2023; room occupancy rate was only 25%. Damage to facilities for service and tourism businesses is estimated at about 10 billion VND.

According to the assessment of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Cao Bang tourism has suffered heavy losses due to the circulation of storm No. 3, seriously affecting the targets of the local tourism industry. It is estimated that the number of tourists in 2024 will be about 2 million, so it is impossible to reach the 2.2 million visitors as initially set.

Restore and maintain the appeal of a safe, friendly and attractive destination

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Sam Viet An said: To overcome the difficulties caused by natural disasters affecting tourism in the province, immediately after the storm, localities and management units of key tourist areas and spots in the province quickly inspected the overall facilities, did a good job of environmental sanitation, prepared all conditions to organize and bring tourism products to serve tourists in order to restore tourism activities back to normal.

The Provincial Special National Monuments Management Board urgently coordinated to re-examine the road and tree systems, focusing on overcoming landslides at the relic sites; ensuring safety for tourists to continue visiting and experiencing at Pac Bo Special National Monument, Tran Hung Dao Forest Special National Monument, 1950 Border Victory Site... Kolia Eco-tourism Area is located in Phja Oac - Phja Den National Park (Nguyen Binh), on the western route of Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark. Director of Kolia Company Limited Hoang Manh Ngoc shared: Autumn is the most beautiful time to attract tourists, but the impact of storm No. 3 led to a sharp decrease in the number of visitors. To overcome the damage, restore and continue to attract tourists to Phja Oac - Phja Den National Park, to Kolia, we focus on building different strategies and promotional campaigns such as: creating unique products and services, focusing on exploiting the traditional cultural features of ethnic minorities here, turning endemic products into special and different tourism products; creating tours to experience the landscape and learn about the culture of the villages at the foot of the National Park to attract domestic and foreign visitors. In addition, connecting and organizing tourism activities combined with volunteering, bringing visitors meaningful and impressive experiences.

Coming to Cao Bang after carefully researching information related to the tour and the province's traffic conditions, Ms. Tran Kim Anh, Ho Chi Minh City said: This is the second time I have come to Cao Bang and I find it wonderful. The effects of natural disasters in the province have not changed my friends and I's decision to choose this destination. I think that coming to Cao Bang for tourism after the storm and flood is also a way for us to support the people here to overcome difficulties and return to normal life soon.

The Tourism Culinary Creation Contest “Delicious Dishes of the Mountains and Rivers” contributes to promoting the image, culinary culture, and people of Cao Bang to a large number of tourists. Photo: The Vinh

In addition to the obvious damage to facilities and service infrastructure, the provincial tourism industry has suffered a lot of damage to service business activities, and tourists are worried about traveling in mountainous provinces affected by storms and floods. In order to recover and stimulate tourism activities to attract tourists to Cao Bang after the consequences of storms and floods, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism has advised on the effective implementation of Resolution No. 143/NQ-CP dated September 17, 2024 of the Government on key tasks and solutions to urgently overcome the consequences of storm No. 3, for tourism activities, allowing tourism businesses in affected localities to reduce 80% of the deposit for travel service business until June 2025. Directing the Provincial Tourism Association and service and tourism businesses to improve service quality, launch promotional programs, new product packages, give discount vouchers or free use of some services of the facility. Strengthening tourism promotion in the last months of the year with many outstanding activities: participating in the Northeast Cultural, Sports and Tourism Festival held in Lang Son province from November 2-4, 2024; successfully organizing the "Delicious dishes of the mountainous region" Tourism Culinary Creativity Contest of the province on November 9, 2024; participating in the National Then singing and Tinh lute festival...

In the coming time, the Department will coordinate with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to organize the exhibition "Heroic Army of a heroic nation" in the province, organize activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army on December 22; coordinate with the Department of Cinema to organize the Film Week to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Vietnam People's Army (December 22, 1944 - December 22, 2024) in the province; Cao Bang Open Cycling Race in 2024...; effectively implement the reception of visitors to the Ban Gioc Waterfall (Vietnam) - Duc Thien (China) landscape area. Actively communicate, diversify forms of promotion, connect domestic and international tourism, especially promote through websites, social networking platforms (Youtube, Facebook...) about the image of safe tourism in the province, ready with the best facilities, services, products to welcome tourists and the image of Non Nuoc Cao Bang UNESCO Global Geopark.

With great efforts and determination in promoting, connecting and promoting the image and tourism brand of the province, in October and early November, the number of visitors increased again; it is expected to continue to increase when entering the peak season of international visitors. This is a good sign showing the strong recovery of tourism in the province; continuing to attract tourists to Cao Bang - a safe, friendly and attractive destination.

In 2024, Cao Bang strives to attract 2,200,000 visitors (100,000 international visitors, 2,100,000 domestic visitors), with tourism revenue of 1,500 billion VND. The whole province has over 300 tourist accommodation establishments with 3,804 rooms, of which 1 establishment is completing documents to meet 5-star standards, 1 establishment meets 3-star standards, 88 establishments meet 1 and 2-star standards; the rest are motels and homestays that meet the standards.

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Source: https://baocaobang.vn/no-luc-phuc-hoi-du-lich-sau-bao-so-3-3173696.html