This year, the national holidays celebrating Unification Day (April 30) and International Labor Day (May 1) will last five days from April 27 to May 1. This is one of the most anticipated times for Hanoi's tourism industry, as it is a chance for the city to attract more tourists. Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Tourism Department, spoke to Hanoimoi Newspaper about the city's plan for the period.

Dang Huong Giang, Director of the Hanoi Department of Tourism. Photo: Lai Tan/The Hanoi Times

How do you see Hanoi's chances of attracting more visitors?

People tend to travel more during their holidays. So we see the upcoming break as a good opportunity for the city to increase the number of visitors. Hanoi is one of the most important tourist destinations in the country. Our capital is an attractive place and a transfer point for travelers to neighboring provinces and cities.

The upcoming holidays will see Hanoi's tourism sector launch a wide range of activities for travelers. Last year, we welcomed around 719,000 visitors during the national holidays on April 30 and May 1. This year, we are expecting around 900,000 visitors.

What has been done for the upcoming holidays?

In March, we held a kick-off ceremony called "Get on Hanoi 2024" to launch a series of 50 tourism activities for 2024. Among these activities, we had the Vietnam International Travel Mart 2024 as one of the first steps to prepare for the upcoming festivities.

At Vietnam International Travel Mart 2024, we showcased Hanoi as a friendly and charming destination. We also introduced 'The South Thang Long Heritage Tour', which takes visitors to relics and heritage sites and allows them to experience local cultures in Thanh Oai, Ung Hoa and My Duc districts.

Later this month, Hanoi Tourism Festival 2024 kicks off, themed 'Hanoi, capital of charm'. The festival will introduce travelers to many affordable products and services available when they arrive in the city. On this occasion, the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Ba Vi District People's Committee will announce the community-based travel site in Mien Village.

How will the city deal with overcrowding and ensure the highest quality of service?

We have asked all accommodation providers, tour operators and local authorities to develop plans to ensure security, safety, environmental health and hygiene and sufficient parking for visitors.

To deal with overcrowding this year, we will redirect tourists to other suburban sites, such as Ba Vi, Soc Son, Duong Lam Village in Son Tay Town, and Co Loa Citadel in Dong Anh District. A regular team will assist visitors and receive and handle their reports of violations.

The increase in airfares is one of the main reasons that has reduced the number of visitors to Hanoi, especially those from the central and southern regions. However, this could be an opportunity for Hanoi, as many people in the North would prefer to spend their holidays in nearby places, including Hanoi. It is estimated that domestic tourist arrivals in Hanoi in Q2/2024 will maintain the same growth rate as in Q1.

A traditional wedding re-enacted as part of the Hanoi Tourism Festival 2023.  Photo: Hoai Nam/The Hanoi Times

What new products and services are being developed to draw more visitors in the Summer?

We will continue to refresh the cultural travel segment, including the launch of new night tours. There will be new waterways connecting Hanoi to handicraft villages and relics, and more double-decker buses will take visitors to outlying areas.

Weekend trips to local homestays will also become a good choice for tourists. It will be combined with sports events held in mountain and river areas, such as kayaking in Dong Mo and Dong Quan lakes, cycling and other adventurous sports in Long Bien, Soc Son and Ba Vi districts.

Hanoi has long wanted to develop a green travel industry. Many green tourism products have been launched, such as the city tour on electric shuttles and bicycles. Local tour operators have also promoted eco-tours as part of health and leisure trips. The sector has always focused on preserving cultural values and encouraging locals to join community-based activities for sustainability.

What solutions will the authorities in Hanoi put in place to attract more foreign travelers?

Many countries are experiencing a decline in international tourist arrivals as customer behavior has changed since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic. People tend to spend less on travel as the world faces geopolitical tensions and economic crises. They now prefer to travel in groups to nearby destinations to save costs. In this context, to make our industry more competitive and provide value-added experiences for travelers, we need to upgrade our products and services to a higher level of quality.

Hanoi authorities and travel agencies will look for ways to expand the customer database, especially for those who prefer to travel by car, boat, and train. We also expect to strengthen our presence in several overseas markets, including Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia, the US, India, the Middle East and Australia.

There will be professional events and programs with promotional and incentive offers to people. The city and local authorities and the business community will use online platforms such as YouTube, Facebook, TikTok and national and international media agencies to publicize the city's landscapes, people, cultural values and heritage.

Thank you for your time!