Transport infrastructure connecting the sea areas needs investment in the near future
Expanding the type of tourism
After being merged from July 1, many tourist attractions formerly belonging to Huong Tra town, Huong Thuy town, Phu Vang district have become new destinations under the management and exploitation of Hue City. Some highlights can be mentioned such as Minh Mang Tomb, Hon Chen Palace, Huyen Khong Pagoda, Bao Vinh Old Town, Thanh Tien Paper Flower Village, Tam Giang Lagoon, Ru Cha, Con Te and Thuan An and Hai Duong beaches, etc.
Hue City’s leaders recognize that, compared to the past, the strength of city tourism is concentrated in the core area, tourism products revolve around heritage, culture and collateral services. Now, when expanding, tourism in Hue city has more types and products associated with hills, countryside, lagoons and beaches.
The resorts associated with the hills, the two banks of the Huong River and the beaches are now also within the scope of Hue city, promising to create overall attraction, increase competitiveness, attract and retain tourists to stay in the city longer.
According to experts, as the city expands, there are always opportunities and challenges. But for the city's tourism industry, more opportunities will open up, adding more advantages to build a dynamic and diverse destination with the strength of a heritage city in the core region and new types of tourism which are highly competitive in the satellite location.
Mr. Vu Van Chuong, Provincial Travel Association said, in terms of advantages to attract tourists, in terms of space, when introducing a destination in Hue city, although the distance is still the same as before, the perception of tourists is completely different. It's the destinations being near, easy to navigate.
Therefore, tourists are willing to visit and explore destinations when informed by travel agents that they are only within the city limits. It is also easier to build a tour route, solve arising problems and procedures when exploiting, because everything only needs to go through one management point.
Mr. Chuong gave an example of the potential to develop exploiting tours on exploring Hue city by waterway. The starting point is at Huong Tho up to Hon Chen Shrine, back to Thuy Bieu, Phu Mong - Kim Long, then to the city center to explore the heritage, and then down to Hen Islet, Bao Vinh, Thanh Tien and rest oneself at the beach.
Beside the cultural-heritage discovery tour, it is possible to exploit tour on exploring and experiencing the craft villages in Hue with the professions of incense making, paper flower making, blacksmithing, floriculture, etc., located along both sides of the river.
Prioritizing connection with the sea areas
Hue City’s leaders emphasized that the advantage of tourism when the city is expanded is what haven been pointed out, but at the same time, it is also a challenge in development. Tourism services require reaching out and having a methodical investment to be more worthy of being a heritage city.
Mr. Vo Le Nhat, Chairman of Hue City People's Committee affirmed that in order to promote its advantages and to build Hue as a destination with a variety of services and types of tourism, among many proposed solutions, infrastructure investment will be the fundamental solution to connect and increase the growth potential for the destination.
In fact, some basic infrastructure has met the new development trend, but some have not yet. City leaders have assigned specialized departments to conduct surveys of all tourist attractions.
On the basis of surveys and new orientations, there will be appropriate infrastructure investments in destinations. In addition, there is a priority selection for each stage, and a reasonable allocation of resources.
For example, tours by waterway need infrastructure including new marinas with modern scale and character. Traffic connecting boat terminals with craft villages and tourist spots must be completed for long-term development. In addition, ensuring basic infrastructure and convenient transportation is also a solution to better attract investment in the field of tourism.
According to experts, with the merging of certain administrative areas, the boundary was expanded to the East Sea, Hue became a coastal city in the chain of central coastal cities such as Dong Hoi, Da Nang, Hoi An, Tam Ky, Quy Nhon, Tuy Hoa, Nha Trang, etc. This is a great opportunity for Hue city in particular and the province to attract investment, promote marine tourism products that are attractive to tourists and highly competitive.
Mr. Dong Sy Toan, Head of Economic Department of Hue City said that leaders of the city have identified the above importance, so they will prioritize investment, embellishment and upgrading of infrastructure in the sea area. First of all, they will focus on connecting the traffic infrastructures to the east and the lighting system along the roads.
Especially in Thuan An, it is necessary to re-plan the beach, infrastructure and service system to create synchronization and improve the quality of services and products. When basic sea tourism is completed, investment will be made for other destinations.
Mr. Phan Thien Dinh, Secretary of Hue City Party Committee emphasized that for some areas associated with the sea, which are the eastern gateway of the city, the city will focus on renovating them soon so as to connect them with the city; thus, the city's face will have the similarities with the city central core area in new urban areas.
Story and photo: Quang Sang