Developing trade and tourism in Quang Nam province: Many challenges

Hoi An City leaders welcome the first international delegation to Hoi An in 2024. Photo: QT

Many risk indicators not achieved

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected the tourism industry in Vietnam in general and Quang Nam in particular, especially in the period of 2020 - 2022. This non-traditional risk has caused the number of tourists to decline severely for a long time.

According to the Provincial People's Committee, it is expected that by 2025, the total number of visitors to Quang Nam will reach about 8 million, not reaching the target set by Resolution 13 (12 million visitors); of which, international visitors will be about 4.2 million (52.5%), basically reaching the target set by the resolution (accounting for 50%).

It is expected that by 2030, the total number of visitors will reach about 12 million, not meeting the target set by the resolution (18 million visitors); of which international visitors will be about 6.6 million, accounting for 55%, meeting the target set by the resolution (accounting for 50%).

Resolution No. 13 of the Provincial Party Committee on trade and tourism development to 2025, with a vision to 2030, was issued in July 2021; aiming to build Quang Nam into a tourism service center of the Central region and the whole country.

Building national and international tourism brands and products. Preserving and effectively promoting resources and advantages for tourism service development; focusing on developing tourism to the south and west of the province.

Another important target set by Resolution 13 that is highly likely to not be achieved is social income from tourism. In 2023, this index reached 18,683 billion VND, and is expected to reach 20,000 billion VND by 2025, failing to meet the target set by the resolution (26,000 billion VND). By 2030, it is expected to reach 30,000 billion VND and also failing to meet the target set by the resolution (45,000 billion VND).

Public-private partnership (PPP) in managing and promoting the value of world cultural heritages is still an open space that needs to be promoted to develop Quang Nam tourism quickly and sustainably. In the photo: My Son World Cultural Heritage Site. Photo: QT

Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the direct labor force in the tourism industry in 2023 will be about 11,000 people, a decrease compared to 2019. It is expected to reach 15,000 people by 2025, not reaching the resolution target of 23,000 people.

By 2030, it will be 20,000 people, only reaching half of the resolution's target of 40,000 people. The tourism economy has been struggling for a long time, leading to investment resources in this field, including tourist accommodation, also being sluggish in the short term.

According to the forecast of the Provincial People's Committee, by 2030 the whole province will have about 1,150 facilities with 26,000 rooms, not meeting the target set by Resolution 13 (1,200 facilities with 29,000 rooms).

According to the general assessment of tourism enterprises, the investment in upgrading Chu Lai airport and seaports has not had many changes; the survey of tourist market demand and forecast of tourism development orientation have not been carried out in a large-scale and scientific manner. At the same time, the Quang Nam tourism promotion fund has not been established; public-private partnership (PPP) in managing and promoting the value of world cultural heritages is still open... These are big gaps that need to be promoted for Quang Nam tourism to create a new breakthrough in the coming period.

The movements

Despite many difficulties in the 2021 - 2023 period, Quang Nam has focused on investment promotion and attracted 116 domestic investment projects with a total registered capital of more than 15,900 billion VND; 13 FDI investment projects with a total registered capital of more than 84 million USD.

Despite facing many difficulties due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, in recent years, the Nam Hoi An Resort Complex (Hoiana) project has continuously launched new products and become a bright spot in tourism development in the Eastern region. Photo: QT

Some typical projects in the tourism sector include Vinpearl Nam Hoi An Resort (investment capital of 4,800 billion VND); Nam Hoi An Resort Complex Project (investment capital of 4 billion USD), Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai (investment capital of 35 million USD)...

During this period, many high-end tourist and resort areas also came into operation such as Shilla Monogram & The Five villas Quangnam Danang, Bliss Hoi An Beach Resort & Wellness, Dong Giang Heaven Gate Eco-tourism Area...

In the 2021 - 2023 period, the management agency recognized 1 more tourist area and 6 tourist spots, bringing the total number of recognized tourist areas and spots in the province to 1 tourist area and 20 tourist spots.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that despite many difficulties in the general context, in the past 3 years, Quang Nam tourism has achieved many achievements in planning, investing in tourism development; investing in developing tourism products and services.

Strengthening market research, tourism promotion and advertising; promoting linkages and cooperation in tourism development; training and fostering tourism human resources; applying science and technology, digital transformation for tourism development; building mechanisms and policies to support tourism development, etc.

According to Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Ho Quang Buu, in the coming time, Quang Nam will continue to focus on investing in tourism development in the direction of combining the north, south and west of the province, linking tourism development with Da Nang City, the Central Highlands region and neighboring provinces.

Thereby, it aims to form circular tourism routes/tours within the province and Quang Nam province with the provinces and cities in the linked region. Develop a plan to develop tourism products in Quang Nam province until 2030; develop and implement the Project "Developing night tourism products". Continue to implement the Green Tourism Development Plan in Quang Nam province until 2025.

Mr. Ho Quang Buu added that Quang Nam will also submit to the Prime Minister a plan to preserve, restore and renovate My Son Relic Site, Quang Nam province until 2030, with a vision to 2050.

Effectively implement Resolution No. 31 dated July 31, 2023 of the Provincial Party Committee on building and developing Hoi An City towards an ecological - cultural - tourist city by 2030.

Develop a landscape planning for the Co Co River and a construction planning along the Truong Giang River. Develop a list of projects calling for investment in the tourism sector for the period 2024 - 2025 (with special priority given to attracting units with large domestic and international tourism brands)...

Source: https://baoquangnam.vn/phat-trien-thuong-mai-du-lich-tinh-quang-nam-nhieu-thach-thuc-3137468.html