Promoting creative startups in the tourism industry

Ninh Binh Bear Sanctuary - An interesting destination for nature and wildlife lovers. Photo: Minh Duong

Initial results of creative startups in tourism

According to comrade Bui Van Manh, Provincial Party Committee member, Director of the Department of Tourism: Looking back at the activities and events in recent years, it can be seen that the efforts and creative start-up attempts of Ninh Binh tourism enterprises have made many important contributions to the socio-economic development of the province.

Innovative start-ups diversify local quality tourism products, including specific products associated with the province's tourism brand, closely following market trends, needs and tastes such as: weekend resort tourism, MICE tourism, sports tourism, community tourism, rural tourism (associated with high-tech agriculture )...

Many tourism products have been affirmed in the domestic and international markets, becoming typical products, pillars of the province, contributing to building the Ninh Binh tourism brand such as: Trang An Eco-tourism Area, Tam Coc - Bich Dong Tourist Area, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Bai Dinh Pagoda, Cuc Phuong National Park, Thung Nham Eco-tourism Area, Mua Cave... Farm models, experiential farms, high-quality agricultural production, specialties... associated with tourism development are invested by businesses to serve tourists.

Up to now, there are 3 rural tourism models that have been recognized as OCOP products in terms of services and community tourism (Hang Mua tourist site - Hoa Lu district, Van Long community tourism service in Gia Van commune, Gia Vien district; Quen Tho tourism, Dong Son commune, Tam Diep city). Many models attract many tourists to visit and experience such as Thung Nham eco-tourism area, Thanh Nga farm, Hang Mua... The whole province currently has nearly 20 tourist areas and spots; 31 licensed travel service businesses, including 8 international travel businesses.

With the province's attention and facilitation, businesses have invested in and built conference centers and high-class restaurants, such as: Conference Center at Bai Dinh Pagoda Cultural and Spiritual Area, Royal Restaurant, Hoang Giang Restaurant and entertainment and shopping facilities, such as: Royal Golf Course, Trang An Golf Course...

The system of tourist accommodation facilities in the province has increased sharply, to date there are over 800 tourist accommodation facilities, with over 10,000 rooms, of which over 40 facilities meet 1-5 star standards. Accommodation facilities have actively invested in renovating, maintaining, upgrading technical facilities, training professional skills for staff, the quality of tourism services has been improved compared to the previous period, creating satisfaction for tourists.

Enterprises are actively creative, researching the market, researching the needs of tourists, investing in developing souvenirs and tourist gifts that are quite diverse in types and designs, with an increase in quantity and improvement in quality from decorations, paintings, wooden handicrafts, scarves, embroidered pillowcases, ceramics, displayed and sold at some tourist areas and spots in the province such as: Trang An Eco-tourism Area, Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area, Phat Diem Stone Church.

Some highly artistic products such as products of the ancient pottery craft of Bo Bat (picture plates, cups, teapots, ceramic vases hand-painted with famous landscapes of Ninh Binh such as Trang An, Tam Coc-Bich Dong, Hoa Lu Ancient Capital, Bai Dinh, Van Long); exquisite hand-embroidered products of artisans of Van Lam embroidery village (handkerchiefs, tablecloths, embroidered paintings); products from Bodhi leaves of Sinh Duoc Cooperative; some symbolic products reflecting the unique culture of the ancient capital such as Kinh Pillar, Thai Binh Hung Bao coin... are loved by tourists and highly appreciated for their aesthetics.

Businesses need more support

Ninh Binh is blessed by nature, has a special competitive advantage in tourism with the orientation of becoming a tourism center of the region and the country. The tourism sector of the province is facing a period of strong development with many large investment mechanisms and policies, promising to be an attractive investment location for many investors with tourism projects, resorts, hotels, high-class restaurants, entertainment areas...

Recognizing the comparative advantages for tourism development, Ninh Binh province has been implementing many policies and support to create favorable conditions for creative start-up tourism businesses to promote tourism development, contributing to the socio-economic development of Ninh Binh and the whole country. In particular, the province has directed departments, branches and localities to carry out many tasks and solutions to create favorable conditions for start-up and business enterprises.

The province invests in developing and completing infrastructure to create conditions for businesses to build and develop diverse tourism products to meet the needs of tourists, especially in key tourist areas. From 2018 to 2024, the state budget has allocated more than VND 1,947 billion for tourism infrastructure construction projects.

Departments, branches and localities have implemented administrative procedure reforms in the tourism sector and related sectors, creating favorable conditions for organizations and individuals to contact and work. Departments, branches and localities have implemented quite synchronously many contents serving the branding of local products and specialties, contributing to the formation and development of brand value, productivity, quality, efficiency and competitiveness of products and services serving the tourism sector of the province.

However, in addition to the advantages, Ninh Binh businesses that want to start a successful business in the tourism sector need more efforts and support from the province. In fact, most Ninh Binh tourism businesses are small and medium-sized enterprises with limited potential, so investing in technological innovation and creativity still faces many difficulties and barriers.

Some regulations on access to bank credit are still barriers that prevent innovative startups from raising enough capital to develop. Some regulations related to tourism activities (not allowing accommodation in the core Heritage area, not allowing the opening of food processing facilities...) also cause difficulties for businesses. Some businesses lack management experience, market access, competition from large companies, rapid changes in the market and technology,...

According to many business owners with experience in starting a business in the tourism sector, for businesses, starting a creative business in conditions of limited resources is difficult. Therefore, the province needs to study and have policies to support creative startups to encourage businesses and organizations to apply innovation; remove barriers to financial access and legal issues to create a favorable environment for innovative startups. Support measures can be through providing financial support, such as: preferential loans, tax reductions or fee exemptions; technical support, including: training, consulting or sharing new technologies.

Currently, many cultural values of Ninh Binh are still in potential form. The province needs to have effective policies to support creative start-up businesses based on exploiting the tourism resources potential of the ancient capital, the heritage land, exploiting and developing products with high cultural content, tourism products with clear indigenous colors such as: exploiting the values of Trang An Heritage, Xam singing, Cheo singing, embroidery, medicine, pottery, especially the cultural and artistic features, royal cuisine which are typical of the two dynasties Dinh and Tien Le.

Promote creative startups with business models that “do not sell tangible things but sell cultural values” in them to enhance the product. In addition, support high-quality human resources; support for tourism businesses in the province to have conditions to cooperate and share tourism startup experiences with domestic and foreign businesses.

Bao Yen

Source: https://baoninhbinh.org.vn/thuc-day-khoi-nghiep-sang-tao-trong-nganh-du-lich-994122.htm