Quang Tri, a tourist destination about memories of war and aspirations for peace

Every year when July comes, domestic and foreign tourists head to the land of fire Quang Tri with the expectation of miraculous changes and revivals. In addition to famous relics, Quang Tri tourism is aiming at the Festival for Peace tourism product and Con Co island tourism about memories of war, the desire for peace, and a time of fire and war.

Every July 27, soldiers and people from all over the country flock to Quang Tri Citadel to offer incense and flowers to commemorate heroic martyrs (Photo: Internet)

Quang Tri promotes tourism development, striving to become an important economic sector in the socio-economic development strategy, accounting for 7-8% of the province's GRDP; by 2025, tourism will basically become a spearhead economic sector, accounting for over 10% of the province's total GRDP; actively contributing to the province's economic restructuring process, creating a breakthrough in development for the next stage.

Building the brand of Quang Tri tourism destination as "Memories of war - Aspiration for peace"; "Tourism gateway of the East-West Economic Corridor" connecting and linking tourism "Heritage Road", "Legendary Road" of the region.

The goal by 2025 is to basically complete investment in tourism infrastructure, especially in key tourist areas and spots; form key tours and routes, build and affirm the brand of the province's tourism products; attract 3,250 thousand tourists, with a growth rate of 6.5%/year (including 550 thousand international visitors); the average growth rate from tourist income reaches 6,553 billion VND (13.3%/year); accommodation facilities from 7,000 rooms; create jobs for the society for 33,600 workers.

Photos at the exhibition (Photo: Internet)

By 2030: Basically complete investment in tourism infrastructure; exploit and promote the effectiveness of the province's tourism brand, creating a breakthrough development for the next stage; attract 4,240 thousand tourists, with a growth rate of 5.5%/year (including 740 thousand international visitors); average growth rate from tourist income of 11,693 billion VND; equivalent to 531 million USD (average growth rate of 12.5%/year); accommodation facilities from 9,500 rooms; create jobs for society for 45,600 workers.

The tourism development orientation is ASEAN countries, especially countries on the East-West Economic Corridor: Laos, Thailand, Myanmar and the markets of Europe, North America, Oceania and Northeast Asia (Japan, Korea). The Middle East, South Asia, Eastern Europe, this tourist stream can be exploited along the East-West Corridor axis connecting with the Ganges River and within the framework of GMS,...

Regarding the domestic tourist market, including Hanoi and the Northern and Central provinces; Ho Chi Minh City and the Southeast market; expanding the exploitation of the Mekong Delta and Central Highlands markets. Promoting the development of tourism products mainly in historical - revolutionary tourism, cultural - spiritual tourism, island resort tourism, border tourism and commercial - official tourism, eco-tourism

The central tourist cluster is located in Dong Ha city and Cam Lo district, which is the focal point for coordinating tourist flows to Quang Tri and is the main accommodation center for Quang Tri tourism. The northern tourist cluster is located in Vinh Linh and Gio Linh districts, which is a particularly important tourist cluster, concentrating most of the most important tourist resources of Quang Tri and is located right at the gateway of the province on National Highway 1A. The western tourist cluster is located in Dakrong and Huong Hoa districts. This is a tourist cluster associated with historical - revolutionary tourism resources with ancient battlefield relics, eco-tourism, community tourism, learning about ethnic culture and potential for border tourism development.

Illustration photo source Internet

The Southern tourist cluster is located in Hai Lang, Trieu Phong districts and Quang Tri town. The central element is Quang Tri Ancient Citadel and the memorial sites of the 81-day and night event in 1972. Railway and sea route: Quang Tri is located on the North-South Reunification railway axis. In the future, this railway will connect with China, Russia, Europe as well as Cambodia, Thailand and Southeast Asian countries (Dong Ha - Lao Bao - Savannakhet - Mukdahan).

With the system of seaports in Quang Tri, it is also possible to develop sea tourism routes departing from Cua Viet, Con Co and My Thuy. Thematic tourism routes include the coastal corridor route; eco-tourism route; ancient battlefield nostalgia tourism route; Truong Son route; river tourism route. Specifically, developing the Dong Ha city area: Developing accommodation services, entertainment, and tourist transit hubs. Cua Tung - Cua Viet - Con Co - Vinh Moc - Hien Luong - Ben Hai areas: Developing sea resort tourism, historical - revolutionary tourism and eco-tourism.

In this key area, the Cua Viet - Cua Tung - Con Co triangle is determined to become a potential national tourist area with the view of developing tourism and socio-economics to contribute to the task of ensuring security and national defense. Khe Sanh - Lao Bao area: Develop historical - revolutionary tourism, border and transit tourism, eco-tourism, community tourism. Quang Tri Ancient Citadel area - Southeast Economic Zone: Develop historical revolutionary tourism, spiritual cultural tourism and commercial tourism, and resort tourism.

Quang Tri also proposed many solutions to innovate and raise awareness of tourism development such as: propaganda, mobilization, raising awareness of cadres, party members, people, the entire political system and the whole society to clearly understand that tourism is a comprehensive service economic sector, bringing about many effective aspects of economy, culture, society, politics, foreign affairs, domestic affairs and security, national defense; has a position and investment role to promote the development of other sectors and fields. Strive to make tourism a spearhead economic sector.

Strongly innovate thinking, develop tourism according to the law of market economy, exploit the depth of cultural values, good traditions of Quang Tri homeland, especially the characteristics and differences of the locality; attach importance to both domestic and international tourism, ensure consistency in viewpoints, goals, action programs and organize synchronous and professional implementation. Raise awareness of people, businesses and communities in construction, contribute to sustainable tourism development, develop tourism to protect the environment, protect tourism resources, build a civilized lifestyle.

Invest in planning and developing key tourism development projects to improve the effectiveness of tourism management and development, as a basis for calling for investors. Build unique tourism products, especially focusing on investing in developing historical - revolutionary tourism, spiritual tourism, sea and island tourism, entertainment and sports facilities. Research and concretize the Party's policies and the State's laws on supporting tourism development in accordance with the practical situation of the locality. Effectively implement the province's preferential policies and investment support for investment projects in the tourism sector; prioritize calling for strategic investors to play a leading role in developing Quang Tri tourism.

Strengthen administrative reform, especially administrative procedures, create an open and attractive investment environment; have mechanisms to encourage businesses, organizations and individuals to invest in the tourism sector. Strengthen coordination and association with localities in the region and on the East-West economic corridor in building common tourism products, promoting products, building regional tourism brands, linking in training and developing human resources. Promote linkage and cooperation in tourism development, connecting tours and tourism routes in the region and connecting with major provinces and cities in the country. Coordinate with Quang Binh and Thua Thien Hue provinces to study and build eco-tourism and adventure tourism routes on the western branch of Ho Chi Minh Road; build a tourism chain: Ancient capital of Vietnam (Hue) - Memories of war and Desire for peace (Quang Tri) - majestic Phong Nha (Quang Binh).

Innovate methods and content, improve the professionalism and effectiveness of domestic and international tourism promotion and advertising activities. Build and affirm the province's tourism brand "Memories of War - Aspiration for Peace"; "East-West Economic Corridor Tourism Gateway" connecting and linking tourism "Heritage Road", "Legendary Road" of the region; research and develop "Peace Tourism" at the historical site of Quang Tri town. Research and complete projects to organize festivals, focus on promoting, improving the quality, content and form of festivals to increase the attractiveness, attracting a large number of people and tourists to the festival.

Promote the role of the province's media agencies, strengthen coordination with the central media agencies, Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad, and foreign diplomatic agencies in Vietnam to introduce and promote the image of Quang Tri to international friends and overseas Vietnamese. Combine foreign information activities with tourism promotion, proactively integrate propaganda, promotion, and investment attraction activities in tourism in foreign affairs activities and diplomatic events.

Strengthen and promote the role of the Provincial Tourism Development Steering Committee. Strengthen the state management agency for tourism, arrange, innovate and improve the operational efficiency of the Management Boards of tourist sites and areas. Improve the quality of the state management apparatus for tourism to meet development requirements. Improve the quality of management and implementation of planning and appraisal of tourism investment projects. Strengthen the application of the national standards and regulations system in the tourism sector, gradually standardize and improve the quality of tourism services.

Improve the effectiveness of coordination between tourism and related sectors, the role of the community, building a civilized and friendly tourism community in dealing with tourists. Promote the role of the Tourism Association in coordinating activities, competing fairly, and linking for mutual development. Strengthen inspection, examination, and supervision of tourism activities at tourist areas, destinations, shopping centers, and accommodation establishments.

Attracting high-quality management human resources and implementing technology transfer policies to gradually take over tourism business management. Developing tourism human resources between prestigious training institutions in the country and training institutions in Laos and Thailand. Increasing the opening of short-term training courses suitable to the nature of tourism development in each specific area. Paying special attention to improving the professional skills of tour guides and interpreters.

Research on methods of effective management and exploitation of tourism resources. Promote the application of information technology in investment promotion information and tourism activities. Research on tourism development associated with ensuring a green, friendly and sustainable environment. Research on tourism development in relation to the preservation and promotion of the value of cultural heritages in the area.

Strengthening links in applying science and technology with other localities, encouraging and supporting learning and applying advanced management technology models in tourism development./.

Vuong Thanh Tu