Being aware of the low starting point of the tourism industry, the government and people of Bac Giang province have endeavored to develop tourism and have achieved remarkable progress. To make Bac Giang an attractive destination of the Northern Midlands and Mountains as specified in Resolution 112-NQ/TU dated June 15, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee on tourism development in 2021-2025 and to 2030, the province's tourism industry is advising and carrying out many solutions to address local “bottlenecks” and “hindrances” in the way. Vietnam Business Forum is granted an exclusive interview with Mr. Do Tuan Khoa, Deputy Director of Bac Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, on this issue.
Yen Dung Golf Course
The Bac Giang Master Plan for 2021 - 2030, with a vision to 2050, approved by the Prime Minister, has opened up what potential advantages and development opportunities for the tourism industry? What are some outstanding products and investment policies in this field?
Bac Giang is the first province in the country to have its master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision to 2050 ratified and approved by the Prime Minister (according to Decision 219/QD-TTg dated February 17, 2022). This resulted from an unremitting effort of the entire political system and an important premise to unlock development opportunities in the future.
Planning is a foundation for Bac Giang province to plan tourism spaces, build tourist sites and places of interest and also a premise for investors to research and implement projects. The planning also helps the province select potential investors to invest in large projects and build restaurants, hotels, cultural and sports facilities. Tourism promotion, advertising and development cooperation and personnel quality are also improved.
Based on its potential and advantages, Bac Giang is determined to focus on building and exploiting four main tourism products: (1) Cultural - spiritual tourism, (2) ecotourism - resort; (3) tourism, entertainment and sports (golf); and (4) Community tourism associated with orchards, traditional handicraft villages, agricultural products, rural areas and cultural heritages recognized by UNESCO. Particularly, cultural-spiritual tourism and golf sports are two key products promised to become important fields.
The province is completing guidelines and policies and carrying out many solutions and activities like facilitating businesses to meet and discuss investment project portfolios; grasping investors' needs to make appropriate changes to policies, especially regarding reforms of administrative procedures, to enable projects to be deployed soon.
The province is also improving the quality of tourism products and services; organizing talks, seminars and famtrip programs; stepping up communications and information on local potential and strengths on media channels and digital platforms.
With the right policies, Bac Giang tourism will be lifted to new highs and asserted as a popular destination brand.
After more than a year of carrying out Resolution 112-NQ/TU dated June 15, 2021 of the Provincial Party Committee on tourism development in the 2021-2025 period, with a vision to 2030 and Plan 298/KH-UBND dated June 28, 2022 of the Provincial People's Committee on implementation of Resolution 112-NQ/TU, what are the outstanding results?
Executing Resolution 112-NQ/TU, with the leadership of the Provincial Party Committee, the Provincial People’s Council, the Provincial People’s Committee and the Tourism Development Steering Committee; with direction and guidance of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism; with effort of relevant agencies and localities; and with active participation of businesses and people, Bac Giang has achieved positive progress.
In 2022, the province directed appraising and recognizing one more tourist destination, bringing total recognized tourist attractions to 12. Bac Giang currently has 26 travel service providers (eight international tour operators and 16 domestic tour operators) and two travel branches; 445 commercial tourist accommodation facilities (twenty one 1-star hotels, eigh 2-star hotels; six 3-star hotels and one 4-star hotel). Total tourist arrivals reached 1.35 million, including 15,500 international visitors. Tourism revenue was VND650 billion and room occupancy was estimated at 75%.
The above results came from the province's policies on State management. Besides, Bac Giang stepped up communications on cultural, tourism and trade promotion and investment programs and aligned tourism development with socioeconomic development.
Bac Giang also spent considerable financial resources on tourism like allocating VND9 billion for printing and re-issuing publications, carrying out survey trips and workshops, building tourism database; and spending VND47 billion to implement projects that have a positive impact on tourism development.
To effectively realize a community tourism development project in Bac Giang province in 2022 - 2030, what tasks and solutions is the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism advising and implementing? What bottlenecks need to be removed?
The Provincial People's Committee ratified the Bac Giang community tourism development project in 2022 - 2030 to tap potential advantages to promote new types of tourism and uphold existing resource values.
To carry out the project effectively, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will continue to advise on: (1) Successfully organizing Bac Giang Tourism and Culture Week in 2023; (2) completing and submitting a draft project on "Restoring the Journey to enlighten Buddha teachings of Buddhist ancestors of the Truc Lam Yen Tu Zen sect” to the Provincial People's Committee; (3) completing and submitting the resolution of the Provincial People's Council on community tourism development policies in 2023 - 2030 to the Provincial People's Committee; (4) completing the intelligent tourism management information system software; (5) completing and submitting the draft strategy on Bac Giang tourism development in flexible response to and adaption to the new context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2022-2030, with a vision to 2050, to the Provincial People's Committee; and (6) organizing professional training courses to improve the quality of human resources.
In 2022-2030, the province will focus on developing community tourism models combined with cultural, spiritual and historical tourism, agritourism, farmstay and culinary tourism. Bac Giang will also use digital technology for tourism development.
These efforts will help enhance competitiveness, strengthen attractiveness to tourists and affirm the brand name of Bac Giang tourist destinations.
Thank you very much!
Ngo Khuyen (Vietnam Business Forum)
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