Opportunity for Binh Thuan tourism to "take off"

At the online conference to review the work in 2023 and deploy key tasks in 2024 recently organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized: Over the past year, the role, awareness and actions in the fields of culture, sports and tourism have been raised; at the same time, it also pointed out a number of shortcomings, difficulties and challenges that the culture, sports and tourism sector must frankly recognize in order to propose solutions and overcome them.

Speaking at the conference, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Binh Thuan Bui The Nhan said: In 2023, the province is honored to be the host of the National Tourism Year with the theme "Binh Thuan - Green Convergence". The series of successful activities has created a positive effect, attracting the attention of all social classes, mobilizing the strength of the community in promoting rapid tourism recovery and sustainable development. In 2023, Binh Thuan welcomed more than 8.5 million visitors with total tourism revenue reaching over 23,000 billion VND (nearly double that of 2022), being one of the 9 provinces and cities with the highest tourism revenue in the country. This result will be a "push" for Binh Thuan tourism to become a bright spot in the development of tourism in the Central region and the whole country in the coming time, contributing to the recovery and development of Vietnam's tourism.

Phan Thiet - Vinh Hao Expressway. Photo by N. Lan

Entering 2024, in the context of the economy being predicted to have many difficulties, changing customer psychology, "renewing" tourism products as well as creating differences is considered a mandatory direction for travel businesses to survive and develop. Therefore, Binh Thuan tourism industry needs and will have to create unique and attractive experiences to attract a wide range of customers, with the expectation of more optimistic results.

Binh Thuan has advantages in nature and climate and the province has been gradually completing its internal and external transport infrastructure; taking advantage of the opportunity from the Phan Thiet - Dau Giay and Vinh Hao - Phan Thiet expressways that have been inaugurated and put into operation, helping to shorten the travel time of tourists to the locality. With the successful hosting and organization of the 2023 National Tourism Year "Binh Thuan - Green Convergence", it has become a great opportunity for local tourism to become a "tourist attraction" on the tourism map of the Central region and the whole country. Hopefully, Binh Thuan tourism will maintain its growth momentum, successfully implement the determination to develop green and sustainable tourism, gradually turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector of the province.

It is necessary to introduce the history of more than 300 years, forming the unique and long-standing cultural features of Binh Thuan; develop sustainable tourism of Binh Thuan based on the strengths of terrain resources, climate, human resources associated with preserving and promoting national identity; emphasize the convergence of many unique cultures, the convergence of heaven and earth and people's hearts on the land of Binh Thuan; affirm the spirit of integration, converging all advantages for development. Promoting this advantage, Binh Thuan will persist in the goal of developing green, sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism, in harmony with nature; preserve and promote historical relics, traditional craft villages and unique festivals; diversify and improve the quality of service products, raising the level of Binh Thuan tourism.

Tourists visit and relax at Ke Ga beach, Ham Thuan Nam. Photo: N. Lan

In addition, Binh Thuan tourism industry needs to invest heavily in human resources and technology, "renew" tourism products; establish more strategic partnerships to have the best price policies, especially participate in programs to promote and advertise tourism in the province; promote the diversification of products and services, design new tourism products in the "popular" tour segment, "high-end" tour segment, eco-resort tourism products, focus on tourism products serving the market of large visitors, high spending and long-term stays, pay attention to golf tourism, cruise tourism, develop culinary activities, entertainment, shopping, etc.

However, we also frankly acknowledge some shortcomings of provincial tourism, first of all, the ineffective linkage in tourism development between Binh Thuan and ministries, sectors, and localities, especially in terms of management, promotion, product development, and human resources. There is still a situation of "each doing his own thing", the linkage between sectors, especially between transportation, industry and trade, health care, etc., and tourism is not tight, and a partnership and cooperation relationship for mutual development has not been formed; there are no national-level tourism "stimulus" campaigns. Tourism products do not really carry the characteristics of Binh Thuan according to their distinct potential and competitive advantages. Forecasting and market development orientation are not clear and practical. Digital transformation in tourism at both provincial and district levels is not synchronous. Tourism promotion and advertising lacks comprehensiveness and long-term vision. Mobilizing and allocating resources for tourism promotion is still scattered.

For Binh Thuan tourism to truly "take off" and attract tourists, achieving the goal of increasing revenue, there must be practical solutions, increasing the attractiveness of the destination and taking tourists as the center. To do so, it requires not only the determination and efforts of the tourism industry alone but also the attention and participation of industries, localities, businesses and the community. All participate in the process of "professionalization", improving the quality of tourism products and services, contributing to creating an image of an attractive and friendly destination of Binh Thuan, gradually affirming the Binh Thuan tourism brand in the direction of high quality.

After more than 2 years of implementing Resolution No. 06 on tourism development to 2025, with a vision to 2030, Binh Thuan has identified tourism development as a shared responsibility of the entire political system, all levels, sectors and the whole society under the close leadership and direction of Party committees at all levels, the unified management of the State; strongly promoting the driving force role of enterprises and communities. With the determination to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, the leaders of Binh Thuan province always create favorable conditions for investors and enterprises to invest and do business in the locality, effectively implementing the motto "Every Binh Thuan citizen is a tourism ambassador" to join hands to contribute to building the image and tourism brand of Binh Thuan to become a safe, friendly and civilized destination for domestic and international tourists.

Closing the National Tourism Year 2023: "Binh Thuan - Green Convergence", Binh Thuan tourism has shown signs of improvement with this growth momentum, it is expected that the province's tourism will make a breakthrough in the new year 2024 and the coming time. This is also a step to create momentum for Binh Thuan's "smokeless industry" to "take off".

Source: https://baobinhthuan.com.vn/co-hoi-cho-du-lich-binh-thuan-cat-canh-116084.html