"Town in the mist" Sa Pa was named in the list of top 50 most beautiful small towns in the world voted by CNTraveller
Talking to Thanh Nien, Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Committee of Lao Cai province shared his enthusiasm about Lao Cai's efforts in making the province's green industry break through and make a difference.
*After the severe impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic, how has Lao Cai tourism recovered so far, sir?
- Mr. Trinh Xuan Truong: Tourism development - the 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 "locomotive" of the Northwest region in particular and the Northern midlands and mountainous region in general. However, the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 and 2021 has severely affected the province's smokeless industry.
Faced with the negative impacts of the pandemic, the province has had timely and flexible solutions to keep up with changes in tourism trends, especially safe tourism trends. Thanks to that, Lao Cai is still a locality that welcomes a large number of domestic visitors in the context of tourism activities in many localities "hit rock bottom".
Overcoming the difficult period, Lao Cai tourism industry has seen strong signs of recovery in the first months of 2022. Notably, after the Government allowed full reopening, Lao Cai welcomed the first international visitors. By the end of 2022, the province welcomed over 4.6 million visitors, of which international visitors accounted for 96,919, the rest were domestic visitors.
The number of tourists is increasing rapidly again, we continue to innovate our thinking, vision, and orientation for tourism development for the next period. Sticking to the goal of developing tourism into a breakthrough, strategic sector for the period 2020 - 2025, the province has established a Department of Tourism to increase the strength of this economic sector, as well as improve the capacity of state management of tourism in the area.
In the first 10 months of 2023, Lao Cai welcomed 6.5 million visitors, equal to 108% of the annual plan, an increase of 66% over the same period in 2022. During this time, Sa Pa entered the top 50 most beautiful small towns in the world as voted by an American magazine. Lao Cai has always been the leading locality in tourism growth in the Northern mountainous region and the extended 8 Northwestern provinces.
*According to you, what factors have created the impressive recovery of Lao Cai tourism in recent times?
-First of all, thanks to the determination and drastic participation of the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, Provincial People's Committee and local Party committees and authorities in the province; the harmonious coordination between the government and the Provincial Tourism Association, the tourism business community in the area, in building new products, creating an attractive and civilized tourism environment.
Resolution 11 dated August 27, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee on tourism development in Lao Cai province to 2030, with a vision to 2050, has helped the tourism industry recover, develop many new tourism products, associated with cultural characteristics and national identity, and invest in developing increasingly rich and attractive tourism products, better meeting the increasing needs of domestic and foreign tourists. State management of tourism has been strengthened, ensuring synchronization and efficiency. Tourism service projects have also been promoted with investment from non-budgetary sources, contributing to meeting investment needs in key tourist areas of the province. Tourism promotion and advertising have been focused on, with the setting of synchronous and breakthrough goals and solutions.
Along with that, promoting the dynamism, creativity and driving role of the business community in accelerating the recovery and development of the tourism industry.
The Rose Festival, part of the Sa Pa Summer Festival, contributed to attracting a record number of visitors to the town during the April 30 - May 1 holiday this year.
One of the highlights of the past year was the effective organization of typical events, especially the series of events celebrating the 120th anniversary of Sa Pa tourism such as: VTV Cup International Women's Volleyball Tournament 2023; adventure sports tourism products such as marathon, cycling, mountain climbing, paragliding, kayaking, camping, offroad challenger in localities (Sa Pa, Bac Ha, Bat Xat); Bao Ha Temple Festival (Bao Yen); "Sa Pa - Land of Love" summer festival; tourism products: re-enactment of Sa Pa love market, Sa Pa - Brocade and flowers... have attracted tourists to Lao Cai.
Most recently, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the construction of the Fansipan cable car, Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area has put into operation the Ban May tourist site. We believe that this is a very unique tourism product because visitors can explore all the most characteristic tangible and intangible cultural features of the Northwest in the same space. This is also the place where ethnic minorities directly manage, operate and participate in the activities of Ban May. I hope this place will be a highlight in the journey of visitors when exploring the top of Fansipan.
*You just mentioned the Fansipan cable car, which has been under construction for 10 years. How do you evaluate the role of the cable car and the investor Sun Group in the development of tourism in Sa Pa and Lao Cai?
-2012 marked the first time Sun Group came to survey and work in Sa Pa. Since 2013, Lao Cai and Sa Pa authorities have cooperated with businesses to start work. By 2016, Sun Group had inaugurated the 3-wire cable car complex with many world records.
In the period 2000 - 2019, the average growth rate of tourists to Lao Cai reached 18.27%/year (international visitors: 9.6%/year, domestic visitors 24.3%/year); in the past 10 years 2009 - 2019, the average growth rate was 22.0%/year (international visitors: 9.4%/year; domestic visitors: 27.7%/year). This is a high growth rate compared to the average growth rate of tourists to the Northwest mountainous region.
Fansipan cable car line is considered a "miracle of Vietnamese intelligence" because of the difficulty in construction.
Looking at that result, it can be seen that Sa Pa and Lao Cai tourism has made an impressive breakthrough. With determination, correct orientation and thoughtful and visionary investment from strategic investors, especially Sun Group, together with the leaders of Sa Pa and Lao Cai authorities, the potential and strengths of Sa Pa have been awakened.
Over the past 10 years, Sun Group has successively created an ecosystem of high-class projects in Fansipan, Sa Pa. The Sun Group ecosystem in Sa Pa has become the main driving force for Sa Pa tourism to accelerate, contributing significantly to the development of the province's tourism economy.
Even in the difficult and challenging period after the Covid-19 pandemic, Lao Cai province is also considered one of the localities with the strongest recovery rate in the country. In the first six months of 2023, Lao Cai was in the top 10 localities with tourism revenue nationwide. This achievement is undeniably thanks to the determination, efforts and support of the local government and the business community, in which Sun Group is always the pioneer and leader.
From the values that Sun Group brings, I think that the criteria and orientation for selecting investors, ensuring to bring to Sa Pa, Lao Cai quality products and services, worthy and meeting the requirements of tourists as well as suitable for the locality, have demonstrated the correct decisions of the provincial government in recent times.
*Lao Cai always has the slogan "Businesses prosper, Lao Cai develops; Businessmen unite, the government will accompany". How is this demonstrated in the breakthrough of Sa Pa and Lao Cai tourism in recent times, through the solidarity of the government - businesses - people in the localities?
-The slogan "Businesses prosper, Lao Cai develops; Businessmen unite, the government will accompany" is the policy to exploit and effectively use the province's resources; highly promote internal resources, maximize external resources for investment and development.
The slogan is a motto, a guideline for provincial authorities to implement, in order to promote the development of local economic sectors, not just tourism. For example, the provincial tourism industry set a target of welcoming 6 million visitors in 2023, but in the first 10 months of this year, the total number of tourists to Lao Cai reached 6.5 million and by the end of 2023 it will be over 7 million. That result shows the strength of solidarity and joint efforts of the government, businesses and people. That achievement has a great contribution from the business community operating in the tourism sector, especially Sun Group.
With a decade of experience and vision attached to Sa Pa, Sun Group's contribution to the locality does not stop at creating quality, classy products to promote tourism, but also in the aspects of: Sharing, connecting and sustainability.
"Sharing" here means: Thanks to the cable car and Sun World Fansipan Legend tourist area, Sa Pa has welcomed millions of tourists every year. From there, the accommodation, food and beverage, and passenger transportation services have increased dramatically. Previously, the elderly and children could not go up, but now everyone has the opportunity to conquer Fansipan peak and admire the majesty of nature, of Fansipan peak.
Ban May, where the unique cultural features of 5 ethnic minorities in Sa Pa converge
"Connection" - We highly appreciate the role of Sun Group in the Lao Cai and Sa Pa Tourism Association. Over the past time, Sun Group has always sought and connected with embassies and international travel agencies to make Sa Pa not only attract domestic tourists but also increase its attraction to international tourists.
Finally, the "Sustainability" factor is that Sun Group not only beautifies the lands but also promotes and exploits the unique cultural values. Recently, Sun Group has put into use the Ban May tourist area associated with the ethnic groups of the Northwest, of Lao Cai, of Sa Pa. And this is also the product for us to "turn heritage into assets", develop tourism associated with preserving the national cultural identity. This not only contributes to promoting cultural heritage, but also shares the benefits harmoniously with the community and the people. Ethnic minorities also directly manage, operate and participate in the activities of this Ban May tourist area.
Respecting and promoting local cultural values, along with prioritizing the use of local workers, has helped Sun Group's development go hand in hand with the development of the locality, the people, and the business community, not just the business itself. This will contribute to creating sustainable development for businesses in particular and Sa Pa, Lao Cai tourism in general.
*From these initial successes, what are the plans and goals of Lao Cai tourism in the coming time, sir?
-Propagate, raise awareness, innovate thinking about developing tourism in a responsible direction, protecting the ecological environment, building a civilized tourism environment to mobilize the participation of the entire political system, residential communities, tourism businesses and tourists.
In the coming time, we will continue to organize tourism events to become unique tourism products such as the "Quintessence of the Northwest" Festival, Bac Ha White Plateau, "Love and Rose Festival"; Sa Pa Snow Festival. Re-enactment of Sa Pa love market; Sa Pa tourism products - brocade and flowers... Develop high-quality tourism products and services, night-time products and services to attract the high-spending market and extend the length of stay of tourists. In 2024, Lao Cai will launch a new unique cultural tourism product, the "Red River Festival".
Millions of dreams of "conquering" the sacred peak of Fansipan - the Roof of Indochina come true after the birth of the cable car route.
At the same time, coordinate and effectively exploit the model tour product "two countries, six destinations Kunming - Chau Hong Ha (China) - Sa Pa (Lao Cai) - Hanoi - Hai Phong - Quang Ninh (Vietnam); Forming agricultural experience tourism products combined with resorts and health care associated with agricultural products, promoting the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program, producing typical products to sell to tourists.
Along with that, the province will create favorable conditions to promote the dynamism, creativity and driving role of the business community in accelerating the recovery and development of tourism; strive to make Lao Cai the most attractive destination in the northern mountainous region; one of the 10 most favorite destinations of Vietnam for tourists.
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