World Travel Awards President: Technology required to promote Hanoi's tourism

It's from the viewpoint of Graham Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards (WTA), following Hanoi's three major titles given at the recent World Travel Awards Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony.

On the afternoon of September 10, at the headquarters of the Hanoi Tourism Department, WTA President Graham Cooke awarded Hanoi the trophies and Winner Certificates for three titles: “Asia's Leading City Destination”, “Asia's Leading City Break Destination”, and “Vietnam's Leading Cultural Destination”.

Hanoi Tourism Department Director Dang Huong Giang (left) and Graham Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards (right) during the visit of WTA representatives to Hanoi. Photo courtesy of the department

At the ceremony, Cooke highly commended Hanoi's tourism potential and advantages, emphasizing the city's rich and attractive cultural potential and heritage. Its consecutive awards prove that Hanoi is a destination with unique cultural tourism products.

He also suggested that the capital should take such advantages to develop tourism products. At the same time, Hanoi needs to introduce digital technology and AI in promotional activities and product development. In addition to websites, social networks such as Facebook, Tiktok or Instagram should be enhanced to promote international tourists' access to the Vietnamese market.

Graham Cooke, Founder and President of World Travel Awards delivers Winner Certificates to representatives of Hanoi Tourism Department.

"It is important that Hanoi always maintain its identity and environmental sanitation, while raising the citizens’ awareness in developing sustainable tourism together," added Cooke.

This is the third consecutive time Hanoi has been honored in the category “Asia’s Leading City Destination” (in 2022, 2023, 2024); and the second time in the category “Asia’s Leading City Break Destination” (in 2023, 2024). Also, for the first time ever, Hanoi won the title of “Vietnam’s Leading City Cultural Destination.”

According to Hanoi Tourism Department Director Dang Huong Giang, with more than 1,000 years of history, Hanoi converges the quintessence of Vietnamese beauty, becoming an ideal destination for tourists who love to explore culture and history.

Graham Cooke at the meeting with Hanoi Tourism Department.

“Winning the WTA titles demonstrates Hanoi’s position as a leading tourist destination in Asia and the capital’s strong rise on the regional map. It is also an opportunity for Hanoi to promote its tourism to worldwide markets,” she stated.

“In the coming time, the city will continue to focus on exploiting its strengths in cultural tourism, developing green, sustainable tourism products, and popularizing a number of products in suburban areas - as well as agro-rural tourism. Hanoi’s short break packages have also been designed, which lasts two to three days and offer its visitors various options,” she added.

Hanoi tourism sector is actively working on key initiatives to advance tourism by developing new and compelling tourism products while reaching out to various markets.

WTA President came to Hanoi to present the trophies and Winner Certificates on September 10.

The city is also advancing the use of digital technology in tourism while committing to heritage preservation. The way will help develop tourism sustainably and attract more foreign visitors.

Hanoi witnessed a surge in tourism, welcoming a total of 2.49 million visitors in August alone, including 496,400 foreigners, up 34.5% on year.

The city attracted 19 million visitors between January and August, a 12.3% year-over-year increase, earning revenue of VND73.2 trillion (US$3 billion), marking an annual ris e of 19.2%.

This growth is underpinned by increased hotel occupancy rates, a broader range of accommodation options, and a diverse array of attractions and activities. Hanoi now offers 71,246 rooms across 3,760 accommodation establishments, catering to both domestic and foreign tourists with its extensive network of shopping, dining, and entertainment venues.