Developing Lao Cai tourism in a sustainable direction

In May 2024 alone, the number of tourists to Lao Cai is estimated at 766,000, up 2.9% over the previous month. In the first 5 months of 2024, Lao Cai welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors, equal to 41.6% of the yearly plan.

The optimistic results of Lao Cai tourism industry are due to the fact that authorities at all levels and people in Lao Cai province have synchronously implemented many solutions, mobilized the participation of the entire political system, tourism business units and especially the active participation of the community.

Spacious, clean and beautiful homestays in Lao Cai .

Bac Ha district has over 100 accommodation establishments, accommodating about 3,000 guests/night. To meet the accommodation needs, authorities at all levels and people have focused on improving the quality of services. The homestay of Mr. Vang Van Tan's family, Na Lo village, Ta Chai commune has many years of experience in operation, with the traditional stilt house architecture of the Tay people, which can accommodate about 60 guests. Along with that, food and beverage services accompanied by traditional cultural activities are carefully prepared, attracting tourists.

Mr. Vang Van Tan said: "The first is to clean the house, the second is to upgrade some of the interior as well as the infrastructure of the house to better welcome tourists. Tourists come to experience the culture as well as the culinary dishes here."

To attract tourists, localities in Lao Cai province have organized many unique cultural, festival and tourism activities and events. Tourism promotion and advertising have been paid attention to, with synchronous and breakthrough goals and solutions.

Mr. Bui Van Vinh - Head of the Department of Culture and Information of Bac Ha district, Lao Cai province said: "Our point of view is not to welcome guests at all costs but to welcome guests with quality, so that visitors come once and remember to come again. To get people to participate in welcoming guests, we have many solutions such as applying the national target program to bring families who do homestay, especially those who have just started, to visit and learn from models in other districts in the province or outside the province".

Ha Nhi people weave trays.

To improve the quality of tourism, in recent times, all levels and sectors in Lao Cai province have promoted propaganda, raised awareness, and innovated thinking about developing tourism in a responsible manner, protecting the ecological environment, and building a civilized tourism environment to mobilize the participation of the entire political system, the community, tourism businesses and tourists.

Mr. Do Van Tan - Vice Chairman of Sa Pa Town People's Committee said: "Sa Pa Town has agreed with the tourism association to direct the management agencies in the town to first pay attention to preparing conditions for accommodation, food and drink, ensuring security, especially in terms of traffic and food hygiene and safety".

Resolution 11 of the Lao Cai Provincial Party Committee on tourism development to 2030, with a vision to 2050, with specific solutions, has helped the local tourism industry gradually recover and develop. Based on this Resolution, Lao Cai has developed many new tourism products, associated with cultural characteristics and national identity. Tourism products have been invested in and built to be increasingly rich and attractive, better meeting the needs of domestic and foreign tourists. Tourism service projects have also been promoted with investment from non-budgetary sources, contributing to meeting investment needs in key local tourism areas.

An early morning in Sa Pa.

In recent times, Lao Cai tourism has improved its effectiveness through domestic and international tourism development cooperation and linkage activities, such as the economic corridor cooperation program of 5 provinces and cities of Lao Cai, Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Yunnan (China); the tourism development cooperation program of 8 expanded Northwestern provinces and Ho Chi Minh City; the cooperation program with the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region (Republic of France). Along with that, Lao Cai is implementing many new tourism products such as the project to build a typical tourist destination in Nam Ria village, Hop Thanh commune, Lao Cai city; Seng Sui village, Lung Than commune, Sima Cai district; La Di Thang village, Ta Van Chu commune, Bac Ha district, and the restoration and embellishment of Hoang A Tuong palace, Bac Ha district.

Mr. Lai Vu Hiep - Deputy Director of Lao Cai Provincial Department of Tourism said: "In the near future, there will be many activities to attract visitors. Firstly, Bac Ha district will organize the White Plateau Festival, aiming to develop tourism in Sa Pa, Y Ty, Bat Xat to exploit mountain peaks and waterfalls. Advise the province to build community tourism, green tourism towards improving the quality of tourism to attract domestic and foreign visitors. Another solution is to organize an international tourism fair in 2024 to connect domestic and international tourism markets to Lao Cai".

In 2024, Lao Cai strives to welcome 8.5 million tourists, with revenue reaching over VND 27,000 billion. To achieve this goal, Lao Cai province focuses on improving the quality of existing tourism products and developing new products, striving to become an attractive destination in the northern mountainous region, one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Vietnam.

Source: https://baolaocai.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-lao-cai-theo-huong-ben-vung-post385508.html