Establishing intellectual property rights, enhancing competitiveness for the capital's tourism

Increase visitor recognition

Exploiting intellectual property to develop tourism is a trend, aiming to create distinctive features for tourism products and services of each locality. With Hanoi's rich natural and cultural tourism resources, exploiting intellectual property is gradually becoming an important factor to increase competitiveness and attract tourists.

Deputy Director of Hanoi Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Anh Tuan said that in order to promote intellectual property (IP) as an important tool to enhance the competitiveness of the country in general and Hanoi in particular and to implement the content of the Intellectual Property Development Program in the city by 2030, the target is that by 2025, at least 40% and by 2030, 60% of key and specific products and services (tourism, finance, etc.) of Hanoi will be supported in registering for protection, managing and developing intellectual property.

Live show "Quintessence of the North" at Tuan Chau tourist area (Quoc Oai).

In 2022-2023, the Hanoi Department of Science and Technology received nearly 60 proposals for support in registering protection for agricultural products and craft villages bearing the city's geographical names. Currently, some localities in Hanoi such as Ba Vi, Phuc Tho, Me Linh, Quoc Oai districts, Son Tay town... have coordinated with functional units to implement a project to register protection and manage local tourism certification marks for tourism products and services.

Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology Nguyen Anh Tuan assessed that in the context of the development of scientific and technological revolution, IP is increasingly playing an important role in the process of tourism development, contributing to promoting tourism development, while helping to preserve traditional knowledge. IP is a part of tourism resources, which is the competitive advantage of one locality compared to another, contributing to creating uniqueness, uniqueness, helping to distinguish tourism products of destinations from each other. Recognizing the potential as well as the difficulties in competition between cities in terms of destinations, Hanoi tourism needs to build its own unique features, with clear identification signs to attract tourists.

Agreeing with the above statement, Permanent Vice President of the Vietnam Tourism Association Phung Quang Thang said that in the context of increasingly developing tourism and a highly competitive environment, the protection of trademarks or brands of tourism businesses will receive more attention. This not only creates the reputation of businesses domestically but also aims to compete in international tourism in the region and the world. "From now on, it is never too late, paying attention to protecting, exploiting and promoting the value of intellectual property to develop tourism business will add to businesses an additional factor to create competitiveness in the tourism market" - Mr. Phung Quang Thang affirmed.

Despite its important role, Mr. Phung Quang Thang admitted that not many tourism service businesses are interested in protecting intellectual property. Tourism businesses, tourism service providers, and individuals participating in tourism activities do not fully understand intellectual property in the tourism sector. Tourism businesses or service providers only implement measures to protect intellectual property in the tourism sector when they clearly see the impact on their business, without a long-term protection plan or anticipating the risks due to intellectual property infringement.

Raising awareness of intellectual property

From the perspective of a travel agency, Lux Group CEO Pham Ha shared that currently there is no mechanism to manage intellectual property rights for tourism products, tourism programs are easily copied, counterfeiting tourism brands and trademarks. For example, in Hanoi, there have been creative disputes between artist Viet Tu and the lord of Tuan Chau island regarding the copyright of the live stage play "Thua ay xu Doai" and "Tinh hoa Bac bo". Or many tourism businesses in Hanoi have similar names, causing confusion such as Hanoitourism, Hanoitourist, Vietnam Tourism, Vietnam Tourist... Some have lost their internet domain names, the dispute has been going on for many years...

Therefore, it is necessary to raise awareness of businesses about IP in the tourism sector. Businesses, units or individuals providing tourism services need to clearly understand and consider IP, trademarks or geographical indications of goods as assets. It is necessary to develop guidance documents, publications and data on IP in tourism in the capital as a basis for businesses and tourism service providers to correctly and fully understand the role of IP and practice it in tourism activities.

Regarding policy mechanisms, it is necessary to specify and detail the institutions and policies affecting the exploitation of intellectual property for tourism development. Specifically, policies to recognize the value of intellectual property in tourism, transfer the right to use intellectual property, and resolve disputes. Building a system of criteria, determining the value of tourism brands and tourism labels helps tourists recognize the reputation of businesses and motivates businesses to exploit intellectual property to expand their business.

On the other hand, Hanoi needs to create favorable conditions for the development of many creative products, starting from cultural heritage resources. The Department of Planning and Investment does not allow registration of confusing business names when granting new business licenses.

Affirming the importance of establishing intellectual property for tourism products, Deputy Director of the Department of Intellectual Property (Ministry of Science and Technology) Nguyen Van Bay suggested that Hanoi should prioritize the development of intellectual property that is linked to the local community and has the ability to participate in the tourism chain. It is necessary to build a destination brand "Capital Tourism, Hanoi Tourism" with an identity through the name, logo, and characteristic images. On the other hand, it is important to pay attention to the reputation and quality of products and services to ensure sustainable development, preserve traditional products, and enhance the value of products and services. It is also necessary to have timely and effective management and support policies to protect intellectual property rights not only domestically but also soon abroad.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/xac-lap-quyen-so-huu-tri-tue-nang-suc-canh-tranh-cho-du-lich-thu-do.html