Hanoi's tourism sector on the road to innovation and investment for sustainable growth

Hanoi should strengthen the linkage in building service products and tours that capitalize on the capital's characteristics and suit the market segments, according to the suggestion of local travel companies, to attract travelers to the capital in the coming time.

Hanoi will target high-spending international customers. Photo: Duy Khanh - Pham Hung

Nearly 80 representatives from travel agencies, accommodations and destinations have shared their opinions at the "Key solutions to accelerate efficient and sustainable tourism recovery and development" seminar organized by the Hanoi Department of Tourism recently.

Representing the capital's travel agencies, Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association Nguyen Manh Than suggested that the city should focus on developing medical tourism and cultural tourism and targeting high-spending international customers after the new visa policy comes into effect.

Sharing the same viewpoint, director of Kim Lien Travel Company Ngo Thi Lan Phuong said the target products for each group must be clearly defined.

"It is necessary to develop culinary tourism products, fall tours, create unique and distinctive souvenirs, and protect Hanoi's reputation as a safe, friendly, quality and attractive tourist destination," she added.

Phung Quang Thang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, stressed the need for innovation in communication and promotion of the capital's tourism images, destinations and new tourism products through domestic and international media channels.

Hanoi must systematically and methodically invest in tourist attractions, organize various tourism services to enhance the visitor experience, and effectively utilize the electric tourism routes connecting the city center, he stressed.

Chairman of the UNESCO Travel Club Truong Quoc Hung suggested that Hanoi should create conditions for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate more in promotional activities at fairs and organize more training courses for tourism human resources.

Tourists visit the Quang Phu Cau incense-making village, Ung Hoa District, 35km from downtown Hanoi. Photo: Hoai Nam.

Speaking at the seminar, Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority, suggested that Hanoi should restructure the tourism industry in the coming period towards professionalism, modernity, quality and sustainability.

He also stressed the need for Hanoi to develop and implement the Green Tourism Action Program for the period 2023-2025 with the orientation of "green, clean, beautiful, civilized and friendly" tourist destinations to attract international tourists to the city as well as other localities in the country.

In addition, Hanoi's tourism industry needs to increase investment in developing key tourism products and focus on attracting resources for new tourism products to meet travel demand in the post-Covid-19 period.

"Tourism in Hanoi must build an intelligent tourism ecosystem to serve destination management and marketing. Enhancing digital transformation in tourism business activities is also necessary to improve business efficiency and international integration in tourism," Khanh stressed.

He added that Hanoi has recently taken measures to promote and attract tourists. In January-August, Hanoi received 12.3 million visitors, including 2.03 million international tourists, a sevenfold increase year-on-year.

"However, the number is still not commensurate with the potential. Compared to 2019, the period before the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of tourists, especially inbound tourists to Hanoi, is still relatively low," stressed the director general of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority.

Hanoi has carried out 172 cultural and tourism activities to stimulate the market since the government allowed foreign travelers to return to Vietnam (March 15, 2022), said Dang Huong Giang, director of the Hanoi Tourism Department.

Travel businesses have been actively introducing new tourism products, such as the "Sacred Night" tour at the Hoa Lo Prison Historical Site and the "Explore Southeast Asia" product line at the Museum of Ethnology.

Through these activities, the city's tourism industry has gradually recovered. In the first eight months of 2023, Hanoi welcomed 13 million visitors, including 2.5 million international tourists.

This year, Hanoi received three awards from the World Travel Awards: Asia's Leading City Destination 2023, Asia's Leading City Break Destination 2023, and Asia's Leading City Tourist Board.