"Redrawing the map" of tourism to break through

Experts say that Lam Dong tourism is diverse and rich in multi-sensory experiences, but to avoid overlap and fragmentation, it needs to be systematized more specifically and clearly to "understand" and "touch" each tourist...

Bustling tourist activities in Lam Dong blue sea. Photo: Dinh Hoa

Must "understand" customers

At the forum on promoting and cooperating in tourism development organized by the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently, Mr. Nguyen Van Loc - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that Lam Dong tourism is still a low-cost tourism on the tourism map of Vietnam. The problem is how to make tourists stay longer and spend more in Lam Dong.

Dr. Phan Bao Giang - Vice Principal and Head of the Faculty of Tourism, University of Economics and Finance, Ho Chi Minh City, said that Lam Dong has many advantages, especially the two long-standing famous tourist centers of Phan Thiet and Da Lat. He called them "inherent capital" from before the merger. With the largest area in the country, Lam Dong needs to build a comprehensive strategy for the tourism industry, especially in the context of increasingly diverse types, products and services.

“The tourism industry needs to build a comprehensive strategy based on the advantages of diverse available products. In the age of technology, analyzing consumer behavior helps us understand customers' desires and form a data warehouse for further exploitation. This data source not only serves tourism but also brings benefits to many other industries,” Dr. Phan Bao Giang shared.

Gong culture of the K'ho ethnic group in Lam Dong

Sharing the same view, Mr. Tran Van Tan - Vice President of Dong Nai Province Tourism Association said that with a clear customer data system, it is possible to understand tourism trends and customers' thoughts, thereby having a general development orientation for the tourism industry. At the same time, the tourism industry also analyzes and systematizes available resources and resources that we need to build in the future to meet the ever-changing needs of customers.

“Tourist destinations like Da Lat and Phan Thiet are hundreds of years old, famous worldwide and have been deeply ingrained in the subconscious of locals and tourists. Beauty also needs to have a name. The names Da Lat and Phan Thiet need to be preserved,” Mr. Tan emphasized.

Every tourist is a tourism ambassador

In the first 9 months of 2025, Lam Dong is expected to welcome 15.25 million visitors, an increase of 17.58% over the same period in 2024. According to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in recent times, promotion and advertising activities have been promoted through digitalizing destinations, international cooperation and participation in major events at home and abroad. At the same time, investment and diversification of tourism types and products have increased attractiveness, meeting the increasing needs of domestic and foreign tourists.

Mr. Vo Anh Tuan - Director of Vietravel Tourism Joint Stock Company, Lam Dong branch, said that to leave an impression on customers, it is necessary to create sufficient "touch points": sight, hearing, taste, smell and touch. For service industries such as tourism, it is necessary to meet the needs of customers. At the same time, for tourism in particular and all other industries in general to develop sustainably, it must be closely linked to the interests of local people. People have the opportunity to promote products and culture, thereby creating the uniqueness of each locality and increasing the attractive experience for tourists.

Tourists experience nature at Ta Dung Lake

At the forum, Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thi Huyen - Deputy Head of Marketing Department, Hanoi National Economics University, a leading expert in tourism marketing, said: Lam Dong's tourism products are currently rich but still fragmented and overlap between localities. In order to develop new Lam Dong tourism products, there needs to be a connection between tourism business investors and more broadly, tourism regions to create a diverse and colorful journey but must have identity and difference.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Thi Huyen emphasized that it is necessary to promote on digital platforms and consider each tourist to Lam Dong as a tourism ambassador. Therefore, the tourism industry must bring a complete experience to tourists, touching all 5 senses. At the same time, the cooperation of the government and businesses plays a key role in building sustainable and quality tourism in Lam Dong.

Changing tourism thinking

Lam Dong tourism industry has set a target of attracting over 23 million visitors in 2025. According to Mr. Nguyen Van Loc - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to achieve this number, the province's tourism industry will continue to develop the night-time economy, promote digital transformation of tourism. At the same time, stimulate demand with incentive packages, link with airlines, railways and travel businesses to form attractive products.

Photo: Anh Nguyet

In recent times, many new products and destinations have been formed such as: beaches and coastal amusement parks (Circus Land, Wonderland, Dino Park...), fruit gardens, agricultural farms, traditional craft villages; unique eco-tourism spots in the highlands... Main and potential types of tourism such as: resort tourism, sea sports; eco-tourism, community, agriculture (farming), forest - sea - sand dunes; cultural - spiritual - festival tourism; adventure sports tourism; MICE tourism; island discovery tourism (especially the route to Phu Quy island); health care tourism... have been developed synchronously.

However, the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that the tourism industry needs to change its mindset and focus on overcoming inherent weaknesses. Instead of just focusing on counting the number of visitors, it is necessary to improve service quality and competitiveness. Therefore, it is necessary to "redraw the tourism map" of Lam Dong province to awaken the potential in all three areas: Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Gia Nghia, and at the same time bring more events here.

In addition, the department will coordinate with localities and businesses operating in the tourism sector to strengthen tour connections within and outside the province; build unique and distinctive tourism products; and propose feasible solutions to develop Lam Dong tourism in a green, sustainable and community-connected direction.

“Redrawing the tourism map” of Lam Dong province is necessary to awaken the potential in all three areas: Da Lat, Phan Thiet, Gia Nghia.
Mr. Nguyen Van Loc - Director of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/ve-lai-ban-do-du-lich-de-but-pha-393509.html