(HBO) – In the context that the lingering COVID-19 pandemic has severely affected tourism, Hoa Binh province is still one of the few localities in the northern region to record a stable number of visitors and have tourism activities not suspended for too long. Since late 2021, local tourism has been reactivated and rebounded strongly.
Mai Chau Hideaway in Son Thuy commune (Mai Chau district) is one of the
pandemic-free eco-resort sites with a beautiful natural landscape on Hoa Binh
Lake.
Aside from promoting domestic travel with
COVID-19 safety ensured, the tourism sector in Hoa Binh has been taking actions
to flexibly adapt to the pandemic, prepare for welcoming more tourists, and
diversify local destinations since Vietnam piloted the border reopening to
international arrivals.
A large number of new tourism products have been
launched to enhance the attractiveness of local destinations. Besides, the Hoa
Binh Tourism Association has encouraged businesses to develop potential types
such as cultural tourism, community-based tourism, eco-tourism, resort tourism,
and sports tourism.
To meet the manpower demand during the tourism
recovery process, authorities have opened several training courses on tourism
skills, sent local cadres and representatives of households to learn
community-based tourism management and development in Lao Cai and Son La provinces.
Hoa Binh has also actively worked to expand
tourism partnerships with northwestern provinces and build tourism cooperation
programmes with major travel hubs such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Thanh Hoa,
Quang Ninh, and some nearby localities.
The 17th provincial Party Congress for the 2020
- 2025 tenure targets that tourism will be become a key economic sector. Hoa
Binh looks to attract 4.9 million tourist arrivals, including 1 million foreign
visitors, earn 5.4 trillion VND (236.2 million USD) from tourism, and create
about 26,000 jobs in this industry by 2025.
Photo:
Visitors to Tien Pagoda in Lac Thuy district seriously comply with
anti-pandemic rules.
For 2022, the tourism sector hopes to welcome
more than 2.5 million tourists and rake in over 2.4 trillion VND in revenue
which is expected to reach 900 billion VND in the first quarter, up 60 percent
year on year.
Nguyen Van Toan, Standing Vice Chairman of the
provincial People’s Committee, stressed that Hoa Binh now has a chance to
popularise itself as a safe, hospitable, and attractive destination among
travelers nationwide, especially those in Hanoi and HCM City.
This March, the provincial People’s Committee
and national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines are scheduled to sign a deal on a
comprehensive cooperation programme for 2022 - 2026 and an action plan for 2022
- 2023. Hoa Binh and other provinces in the expanded northwestern region have
also inked a cooperation agreement and planned to set up a safe tourism
corridor.
Nestled at the foot of a mountain with the serene Sia stream flowing by, Hich 2 village in Mai Hich commune, Mai Chau district, offers a tranquil retreat and an authentic cultural experience of the Thai ethnic community. Known for its unspoiled nature and preserved traditions, it has become a favourite destination for international tourists.
The People’s Committee of Tan Lac district recently hosted a cultural, sports and tourism festival of local highland communes and a ceremony to receive the Heritage Tree designation.
Hien Luong commune in Da Bac district is blessed with beautiful landscapes, thanks to its location besides a vast, picturesque reservoir with clear waters year-round. This natural advantage has allowed the local ethnic minorities to develop sustainable tourism, becoming a community tourism destination.
The 2024 Tour Guide Competition was held in the framework of the Hoa Binh Provincial Culture and Tourism Week, bringing together 13 contestants from seven districts and cities to celebrate the vital role of tour guides as cultural ambassadors.
