From the advantage of heritage...
Phu Tho boasts a wealth of tourism resources, stretching from the midland region of the ancestral land to the mountainous ecological landscape and renowned resorts. This is a significant advantage for the locality to develop various types of tourism simultaneously, including cultural, ecological, resort, community-based, and experiential tourism. The connection between cultural regions creates a rich travel itinerary, from returning to the roots and paying respects to ancestors at Hung Temple to exploring the Buddhist space of Tay Thien or experiencing the indigenous culture of the Muong region.
Besides the Hung Temple Historical Site, many destinations such as Tay Thien, Tam Dao, Thanh Thuy, the Thac Bo Goddess Temple, Da Bac Cave, Tien Phi Cave, and community-based tourism destinations rich in local identity are contributing to creating a diverse tourism space for the province. From relaxation and ecotourism to cultural experiences, all these destinations can be connected within a single itinerary.
Many tourists visiting Phu Tho express their admiration for the diversity of tourism options. Mr. Vu Thanh Hien, a tourist from Gia Lai, shared: “Phu Tho offers not only spiritual tourism but also ecotourism, community-based tourism, and resort tourism. I particularly enjoyed the experience at Tay Thien because of its pristine nature, friendly people, and unique cuisine .”
According to representatives of several travel agencies, few localities possess the advantage of combining spiritual, ecological, and community cultural elements like Phu Tho currently does. This creates favorable conditions for developing resort tours that combine exploring local culture, rather than just day trips for religious purposes as before. However, despite its great potential, the province's tourism still exhibits a distinctly seasonal nature.
In many destinations, visitor numbers surge at the beginning of spring but drop sharply after the festival season. This leads to a short peak followed by a prolonged slump in tourism activities in many locations; many services operate at a reduced capacity for most of the rest of the year. Many destinations are still limited to simple activities like offering incense and sightseeing, failing to create engaging experiences to retain tourists.
Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Lan, Chairman of the Phu Tho Tourism Association, noted that many localities still focus on serving the festival season instead of developing products that offer cultural experiences. Meanwhile, tourists' needs are becoming increasingly diverse, not only seeking good fortune through pilgrimages but also wanting to relax, learn about local history and culture, and improve their mental well-being. According to Mr. Lan, localities need to develop a series of year-round activities such as folk culture experiences, meditation, eco-tourism, community tourism, or tours exploring history and beliefs to increase the length of stay and the attractiveness of the destination.
...to the challenge of attracting customers year-round.
Phu Tho's current advantage lies in its ability to connect multiple destinations into integrated tourism routes, rather than exploiting them individually as before. Many experts believe that, with effective connectivity, the locality could develop 2-3 day tours with diverse itineraries, such as visiting Hung Temple to pay respects to the ancestors, experiencing Muong culture in Mai Chau commune, and relaxing and worshipping at Tay Thien - Tam Dao. This linkage would not only extend the length of stay but also increase tourist spending, creating opportunities for the development of accommodation, food, transportation services, and local products.
According to Ms. Le Thi Ngoan, a tourism expert and founder of the Travel Authentic Asia brand, to effectively develop inter-regional tourism routes, connecting infrastructure, accommodation facilities, and service quality need to be continuously improved. In addition, localities should avoid commercializing tourism, which can lead to the loss of inherent cultural values. Ms. Ngoan believes that the importance of tourism lies not in the scale of festivals or the number of attractions, but in creating a cultural space, emotions, and experiences for tourists. When tourists feel the cultural atmosphere, the peace, and the unique characteristics of each region, they will want to return instead of just visiting once at the beginning of the year.
From a management perspective, Mr. Bui Xuan Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province, said that the province has implemented many solutions to attract tourists, with a particular focus on cultural tourism. Localities are actively promoting destinations, upgrading infrastructure, and developing more tours that combine cultural experiences and sightseeing. With the orientation of developing cultural tourism as a year-round destination, the province has identified a comprehensive strategy ranging from product development and infrastructure investment to enhancing the role of the community. Promoting the value of historical sites, improving service quality, and applying technology in promotion will contribute to making spiritual tourism an attractive product for tourists year-round.
To ensure that cultural tourism is not just a "hot" trend during festival seasons and to foster a consistent flow of experiential tourists, Phu Tho province is prioritizing the expansion of its development into ecotourism and resort tourism in the Hoa Binh region. Accordingly, the province is focusing on investing in transportation infrastructure, environmental protection, and the development of nature-friendly resorts to capitalize on the region's distinctive mountainous landscape. This model not only boosts the local economy and diversifies tourism products but also contributes to the preservation of traditional cultural values and biodiversity in the region. This is identified as a strategic direction for Phu Tho to strengthen inter-regional tourism development and expand its network of attractive destinations in the area.
Thanks to its unique culture, beliefs, and landscapes after the expansion of its administrative boundaries, Phu Tho has many favorable conditions to develop cultural tourism as a key product. When destinations are effectively connected and the depth of the experience is enhanced, this type of tourism will not only boost local services and the economy but also strongly spread the cultural values of this ancestral land.
Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/phat-trien-du-lich-van-hoa-trai-nghiem-ben-vung-20260522114405897.htm
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