To materialize the motto “Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam,” the Hanoi Department of Tourism has cooperated with localities nationwide to develop tourism products and stimulate domestic demand in Hanoi and nationwide.

St. Joseph's Cathedral Hanoi. Photo: Duy Khanh (Kinh te & Do thi)

In this November, the department, in coordination with the Department of Tourism of Ho Chi Minh City and the central provinces will jointly organize a forum to link the central key economic region with Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in developing tourist products, supporting each other in building and operating tours, Mr. Kieu Viet, head of Accommodation Management Division under the Hanoi Tourism Department, told Hanoitimes.

Earlier, during July-September, the department cooperated with the UNESCO Travel Club to organize a farm trip delegation to survey and build tourist products in Hanoi - Quang Binh - Nghe An - Thanh Hoa; in Son Tay town; in districts of Ba Vi, My Duc, Soc Son, Gia Lam of Hanoi.

According to the department, Covid-19 has sunk the tourism industry, reducing an estimated 50-60% of total domestic tourists in the last months of 2020 compared to the same period of 2019, equivalent to 7.1 - 8 million visitors.

Enhancing cooperation programs

Hanoi street in the Old Quarter. Photo: Vu Minh Quan

In order to stimulate tourism demand, the department has called on destinations, accommodation establishments and travel services to commit to offering discounts, and at the same time focusing on building products with Hanoi's specialties such as heritage, ecology, healthcare, tourism associated with cultural events, sports, and trade.

The reduction of tour prices has stimulated domestic travel, making the program “Vietnamese people travel in Vietnam” effective, and at the same time supporting production and consumption of Vietnamese products under the campaign “Vietnamese people buy Vietnamese goods”, Mr. Viet analyzed.

According to local insiders, in order to stimulate demand, in addition to reducing tour prices, it is necessary that regulatory agencies   promote regional connectivity as well as cooperation among local tour operators.

In fact, so far this year, Hanoi Tourism Corporation has continued to maintain connections with destinations in provinces and cities, service providers (such as airlines, transportation vehicles, restaurants, hotels) to organize domestic promotional tours, thereby, constantly reviving tourism activities, Deputy General Director of Hanoi Tourism Corporation Nguyen Thi Van told Hanoitimes.

In addition, the company has linked with provinces and cities to organize seasonal tours such as the Western region - the flood season, Phu Quoc - the dry season, Con Dao - the spiritual tour at the end of the year.

In particular, the company has also cooperated with Ninh Binh tourism businesses to build a tour “The night before the capital’s move” in which visitors can experience the process of moving the capital from Hoa Lu (Ninh Binh province) to Dai La (Hanoi) by King Ly Cong Uan.