The travel companies in Hanoi suggest strengthening the development of service products and tours that leverage the capital’s unique characteristics to attract travelers in the future. A recent seminar organized by the Hanoi Department of Tourism gathered nearly 80 representatives from travel agencies, accommodations, and destinations to discuss key solutions for tourism recovery and development.
| Hanoi will target high-spending international customers. Photo: Duy Khanh – Pham Hung |
Nguyen Manh Than, Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association, emphasized the importance of developing medical and cultural tourism and targeting high-spending international customers with the implementation of the new visa policy. Ngo Thi Lan Phuong, director of Kim Lien Travel Company, supported this idea and highlighted the need for clearly defined target products for each group.
In addition, Phung Quang Thang, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Tourism Association, called for innovative communication and promotion strategies to showcase Hanoi’s tourism offerings to domestic and international audiences. He also emphasized the need for investments in tourist attractions, improved tourism services, and utilization of electric tourism routes in the city center.
The Chairman of the UNESCO Travel Club, Truong Quoc Hung, suggested creating opportunities for small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in promotional activities and organizing 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. |
Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director General of the Vietnam National Tourism Authority, emphasized the need for restructuring the tourism industry towards professionalism, modernity, quality, and sustainability. He also called for the development and implementation of a Green Tourism Action Program to create “green, clean, beautiful, civilized, and friendly” tourist destinations.
Hanoi’s tourism industry should increase investment in key tourism products and focus on new tourism products to meet post-Covid-19 travel demand. Khanh highlighted the importance of building an intelligent tourism ecosystem, embracing digital transformation, and improving business efficiency and international integration in tourism.
Despite recent efforts to promote and attract tourists to Hanoi, the number of visitors is still relatively low compared to pre-pandemic levels. In the first eight months of 2023, Hanoi received 13 million visitors, including 2.5 million international tourists. However, there is room for further growth and improvement in the city’s tourism industry.
Overall, Hanoi’s tourism sector is gradually recovering, and the city has received recognition with three awards from the World Travel Awards for being Asia’s Leading City Destination 2023, Asia’s Leading City Break Destination 2023, and Asia’s Leading City Tourist Board.
