Night tourism is not all "rosy"

The project "Some models for developing night tourism products" proposes 5 models for developing night tourism products including: Cultural and artistic performances; sports, health care, beauty; shopping, night entertainment; night sightseeing and introducing culinary culture and night food services.

As part of the cultural and artistic performance activities, the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival (DIFF) is a quite successful night-time economic activity. After 11 times of organization, the festival has become a spiritual dish for many domestic and foreign tourists. This year, the number of guests served by accommodation establishments during more than a month of DIFF 2023 (from June 2 to July 8) reached about 942,000, an increase of 29% compared to DIFF 2019. Revenue from accommodation, food and beverage, and travel services in June 2023 is estimated at VND 2,341 billion, an increase of 24.9% over the same period in 2022.

Tourist Ravi Capeles (New York, USA) shared: “I planned to stay here for 6 days but when I heard that DIFF 2023 would take place, I stayed. It was really worth it because the festival is great. I am happy with this decision.”

The International Fireworks Festival is a night tourism product that has become a trademark of Da Nang (photo taken at the Opening Ceremony of DIFF 2023). Photo: HOANG GIANG

Like DIFF, the walking space around Hoan Kiem Lake or Hoi An ancient town at night... are also experiences that cannot be missed by any domestic or foreign tourists who want to learn about the culture in Hanoi and Quang Nam.

However, night tourism is not all about the "rosy" advantages. Research by the Institute of Alcohol Studies (IAS) in the UK shows that the consumption of alcoholic beverages has increased sharply as the night-time economy develops. Fearing that teenagers will soon pick up bad habits related to gathering at night and trying drugs, in 2019, the Malaysian government also considered a solution to ban children under 18 from going out after a certain time, depending on their age. In addition, many "night cities" cannot avoid the consequences of bad guys taking advantage of the hustle and bustle of the night to carry out illegal acts such as: Trading, organizing drug use, gambling, prostitution...

In addition, Vietnam also has failed night tourism products. One of them is Trinh Cong Son walking street in Hanoi. Mr. Phung Quang Thang, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association, said: "When doing night tourism, it will lead to many problems related to noise, security, order, environmental sanitation, health, and transportation."

Therefore, according to the Director of the Vietnam National Tourism Administration Nguyen Trung Khanh: "Although before the project, some localities had implemented night tourism products, the overall implementation of the project is to contribute to diversifying tourism products, creating sustainability and increasing values ​​from tourism, increasing tourist attraction, making night tourism products the main product to develop the night economy".

The key to solving the problem

According to experts, the key to solving the problem here is that localities need to focus on dividing specific areas and regions to focus on developing night tourism product models as proposed in the project. Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh said: “The core point to successfully implement the project is to organize and implement the correct night tourism product models; have appropriate solutions to develop night services and products according to the advantages of each locality; allocate resources and propose appropriate policies for developing night tourism products”.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Hong Long, Head of the Faculty of Tourism Studies (University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi) expressed: “Night tourism activities include both positive and negative factors. The most important solution is to divide the territory and allocate space for organizing night services so that night tourism activities are effective without affecting the people and other tourists.

The night-time economic area needs to have a good night-time product connection chain, diversifying products and services to suit market needs. Planning the night-time economic area also needs to receive consensus and cooperation from people and businesses. When people and businesses determine what benefits they enjoy, what negative impacts they suffer, and are clearly aware of that, along with the management role of the government, then the operation will be effective.

Mr. Hoang Nhan Chinh, Head of the Secretariat of the Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) of Vietnam, suggested: “Many tourist destinations can learn from other countries to have a clear plan for night tourism areas for visitors to comfortably experience based on their own strengths in culture and entertainment... For example, the De Genting Casino (Malaysia) is open all night, and visitors flock to a separate area that must be reached by cable car. Paris (France) has a cruise tour to see famous structures along the quiet Seine River at night or night performances at the Napoleon museum with excellent soundproofing.”

According to experts, the role of the locality is very important in solving arising problems as well as organizing human resources to implement... Not every area can do night economy. We can choose to be near a commercial area to take advantage of natural advantages for shopping activities. However, it is important that the planning of that area needs to reach consensus from the community by convincing about the benefits and solutions to overcome the problems that will arise. Managing night economic activities has many different contents, policies and management models between locations and localities.

We need systematic management, forecasting risks and problems in order to propose appropriate solutions. Organizing services for guests is not only an attractive tour product to make the most of guests' time at the destination, attracting local and surrounding people, investing in shopping areas, organizing transportation systems and parking lots, but also organizing food and beverage services, promoting culinary culture, promoting destination images or cultural and artistic activities, and managing information.

The project "Some models for developing night tourism products" of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism sets the target that by 2025, the localities: Hanoi, Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Hoi An (Quang Nam), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Can Tho, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Ho Chi Minh City, Ba Ria-Vung Tau will have at least one model for developing night tourism products. Form separate night entertainment complexes in Hanoi, Da Nang, Ho Chi Minh City. Increase the average length of stay of tourists in the localities implementing the project to at least one night.

By 2030, expand the formation of separate night entertainment complexes in major tourist centers such as: Quang Ninh, Hai Phong, Thua Thien Hue, Hoi An (Quang Nam), Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa), Da Lat (Lam Dong), Can Tho, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Ba Ria-Vung Tau. Form a brand of Vietnam's night tourism products.

THANH PHUONG

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