Lao Cai: Enhancing tourism experience through digital transformation

Sa Pa is one of the indispensable destinations when tourists visit Lao Cai. To increase its attractiveness, in recent years, Sa Pa has been actively implementing digital transformation, gradually building a digital tourism information system.

The town has deployed smart tourism utility software, organized tourist kiosks to support visitors, built an automatic commentary system, integrated local information using QR codes...

One of the outstanding models, bringing many conveniences to tourists is the smart tourism app "Sa Pa tour". Launched by Sa Pa town in May 2024, "Sa Pa tour" offers a breakthrough technology solution to digitize 5 services including: destination tourism, indigenous culture, traditional products, cuisine, and resorts.

Through “Sa Pa tour”, tourists are provided with accurate information and images of tourist attractions, cultural relics, festivals, events, etc. in the town; provided with food, accommodation, shopping, and sightseeing services; online payment; checking information on accommodation, destinations, and tourism products with more than 1,000 accommodation establishments and more than 40 OCOP products that are regularly updated…

Preparing his luggage to return to Hanoi after finishing his 2-day, 1-night trip in Sa Pa town, Mr. Nguyen Hoang Son felt very satisfied with the local tourism services.

Mr. Son said: This is my first time coming to Sa Pa, but thanks to the "Sa Pa tour" application, it didn't take me much time to build an itinerary. This application is like a tour guide, providing all the information that tourists need.

Thanks to the application of digital transformation, Sa Pa tourism has made a strong change in recent years. In addition, thanks to the support of digital media, Sa Pa tourism promotion has many innovations and creativity, reaching not only domestic tourists but also foreign tourists.

However, according to Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong, Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Sa Pa town, digital transformation in Sa Pa tourism industry is achieving initial results, there are still limitations in human resources, infrastructure, equipment...

Sa Pa Town determined that in the coming years, digital transformation in the tourism industry is the transition from traditional business and marketing models to more modern business models.

Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong, Head of Department of Culture, Science and Information of Sa Pa town

Ms. Hoang Thi Vuong added: To do this, Sa Pa needs to promote the achieved results, while overcoming the limitations. In the coming time, Sa Pa will continue to develop a smart tourism ecosystem in a synchronous manner, serving the management and business of tourism and improving the experience of tourists.

Along with Sa Pa, Bat Xat district has also proactively kept up with the digital transformation trend, applying technology in promoting, welcoming and serving tourists. Accordingly, Bat Xat maintains and effectively operates websites and social networking sites to promote and introduce Bat Xat culture and people; applies technology in storing and preserving national cultural identity; digitizes documents on tourist routes and destinations using QR codes; encourages tourist establishments to use online services, etc.

In addition, to enhance the experience for visitors, in 2024, Bat Xat will deploy VR360 virtual reality technology, introducing typical attractions such as: Lung Po Flagpole, Trinh Tuong Temple...

Thanks to tourism development solutions, including the application of digital technology, Bat Xat's annual tourism growth rate averages over 20%. In 2024, Bat Xat will welcome about 220,000 visitors to its tourist attractions and resources.

Despite achieving many positive results, digital transformation in tourism development in Bat Xat still faces many difficulties.

According to Mr. Pham Van Tam, Head of the Department of Culture, Science and Information of Bat Xat district, the application of digital technology in tourism units and businesses is still isolated and inconsistent. In addition, the information infrastructure at some local points is still poor, digitalization activities are sporadic, and have not yet maximized their effectiveness...

In order for digital transformation in tourism development to be most effective and create new economic values, in the coming time, Bat Xat will continue to improve information technology applications, create new products and services; prioritize training, improve digital technology knowledge and skills and innovation for tourism human resources; invest in developing synchronous and modern information technology infrastructure, ensuring information security to develop smart tourism...

Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/lao-cai-nang-cao-trai-nghiem-du-lich-nho-chuyen-doi-so-20250325083240465.htm