At this point, the number of visitors to Lao Cai has nearly reached the finish line for the whole year of 2023. With the cooperation between local authorities and businesses, people, Lao Cai tourism is changing and accelerating strongly after the negative impacts of the year affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Tourism Development – Smokeless industry is identified by Lao Cai province as one of the four pillars of economic development of the province. In the period of 2016 – 2019, Lao Cai tourism has developed rapidly and strongly, becoming the “leader” of the Northwest region in particular and the Northern Midlands and Mountains in general. 2020 and 2021 are two years when the Covid-19 epidemic severely affected the “smokeless industry” of Lao Cai province, which is developing strongly.
Faced with the negative impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lao Cai province has had timely and flexible solutions to keep up with changes in tourism trends, especially safe tourism trends. Therefore, Lao Cai province is still a locality that receives a large number of domestic tourists in the context of tourism activities in many localities “hitting bottom”.
Overcoming the difficult period, Lao Cai tourism showed signs of strong recovery in the first months of 2022. In particular, after the Government allowed it to fully open, Lao Cai welcomed its first international visitors. By the end of 2022, Lao Cai province will welcome over 4.6 million visitors (of which: 96,919 international visitors, 4,545,846 domestic visitors).
The number of tourists increased rapidly again, Lao Cai province continued to innovate its thinking, vision, and tourism development orientation for the next period. Sticking to the goal of making tourism development a breakthrough and strategic field for the period 2020 – 2025, Lao Cai province has established the Department of Tourism to increase the strength of this economic sector, as well as improve the quality of tourism. Enhance state management capacity on tourism in the area.
In the first 10 months of 2023, Lao Cai province will welcome 6.5 million visitors, equal to 108% of the year’s plan, an increase of 66% over the same period in 2022 (3,907,626 arrivals). Also during this time, Sa Pa entered the top 50 most beautiful small towns in the world voted by an American magazine. Lao Cai is also always the leading locality in tourism growth in the Northern mountainous region and the expanded 8 Northwest provinces.
Thanks to the spirit of determination and drastic participation of the Provincial Party Committee, People’s Council, Provincial People’s Committee, other party committees and local authorities in the province; Smooth coordination between the government and the Provincial Tourism Association, the local tourism business community in building new products, creating an attractive and civilized tourism environment to bring tourism back to recovery quickly and have a breakthrough in 2023.
Projects serving tourism have increased investment from non-budget capital sources, contributing to meeting investment needs in key tourist areas of the province. Tourism promotion and promotion work is paid attention and focused on setting synchronous and breakthrough goals and solutions. Along with that, promote the dynamism, creativity and driving role of the business community in accelerating the recovery and development of the tourism industry.
Typical activities and events were organized effectively, especially the series of events celebrating 120 years of Sa Pa tourism such as: VTV Cup International Women’s Volleyball Tournament 2023; Adventure sports tourism products Marathon, Bicycle Racing, Mountain Climbing, Paragliding, Kayak, Camping, Offroad Challenger in localities: Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat); Bao Ha Temple Festival (Bao Yen); Summer Festival “Sa Pa – Land of Love”; Tourism products: Recreating Sa Pa Love Market, Sa Pa – Brocade and Flowers; Sa Pa Cultural and Tourism Week;etc. attracting tourists to Lao Cai.Along with that, the convenience of entry and exit activities through Lao Cai International Border Gate has contributed to promoting tourism development.
Most recently, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the construction of the Fansipan cable car line, Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area has put into operation the Ban May tourist destination. We think that this is a very unique tourism product because visitors can discover all of the most typical tangible and intangible cultural features of the Northwest in the same space. This is also where ethnic minorities directly manage, operate and participate in Ban May’s activities. I hope this will be the highlight of visitors’ journey when exploring Fansipan peak.
With determination, the right direction, along with thoughtful and visionary investment, from strategic investors, especially Sun Group along with the leaders of the Sa Pa and Lao Cai governments, the potential of Sa Pa and Lao Cai has been awakened capabilities and strengths of Sa Pa.
Lao Cai tourism industry aims to welcome 6 million visitors in 2023, but in 10 months of this year, the total number of tourists coming to Lao Cai has reached 6.5 million and by the end of 2023 there will be over 7 million visitors. . That result shows the strength of solidarity and joint efforts of the government, businesses and people. That achievement was greatly contributed by the business community operating in the tourism sector, especially Sun Group.
With a decade of experience and vision of sticking to the land of Sa Pa, Sun Group’s contribution to the locality not only stops at creating quality, classy products to promote tourism, but also aspects: Sharing, Connection and Sustainability.
Sharing here is that thanks to the cable car and Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area, Sa Pa welcomes millions of tourists every year, from there, promoting a sudden increase in accommodation, dining, and passenger transportation services. Previously, the elderly and children could not go up, but now everyone has the opportunity to conquer Fansipan peak and admire the magnificence of nature and Fansipan peak.
Respecting and promoting indigenous cultural values, combined with prioritizing the use of local workers, has helped Sun Group’s development always go hand in hand, closely associated with the development of the locality and people as well as the business community, not just businesses. This will contribute to sustainable development for businesses in particular and Sa Pa and Lao Cai tourism in general./.
Q.Lien