Seminar discusses development of gifts and souvenirs for tourists

Attending the seminar were Doan Minh Huan, member of the Party Central Committee and Secretary of the provincial Party Committee; Nguyen Ngoc Ha, Deputy Editor-in- chief of the Communist Review; Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Council Mai Van Tuat; Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Quang Ngoc; and Ha Van Sieu, Deputy Director of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism, among others.

In his opening remarks, Vice Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Tran Song Tung highlighted the province's history, geological location and landscapes as well as its cultural tradition. These are important foundations for Ninh Binh's tourism sector to develop strongly over the past years and continued to become a bright spot on the tourism maps of Vietnam and the world, he stressed.

Large numbers of tourists have offered potential for the production and sale of gifts and souvenirs. However, besides achieved results, Ninh Binh's tourism industry has seen shortcominges such as the lack of professional and unique gifts and souvenirs. 

There are few businesses joining in the gift and souvenir research and production market, while provincial authorities have not yet issued policies to support organizations and individuals to study, design, produce and distribute gifts and souvenirs serving tourists.

The seminar played an important role in the provincce's tourism development as well as socio-economic development, Tung added.

At the seminar, managers, scientists, experts and representatives of local firms evaluated the province's gift and souvenir market and shared experiences in developing gifts and souvenirs in Vietnam and in some countries across the world.

Some delegates suggested that the province should develop gifts and souvenirs that tell stories and history of the Hoa Lu ancient capital. This would create distinctive values for local gifts and souvenirs.

Others proposed the province design souvenirs based on its heritage values, such as accessories from snail shelld, pottery products that are decorated with symbols of Ninh Binh, including the images of Nhat Tru pagoda, stone pillars and ancient coins of the Dinh dynasty.

Managers and scientists also put forth some policy implications and solutions to support enterprises to develop production in association with developing material zones and training labourers at tourist sites.

Besides, the province needs to build a strategy on developing products in line with a marketing strategy; build linkages and connect distribution channel for local gifts, souvenirs and OCOP products.

Concluding the seminar, Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Pham Quang Ngoc said the ideas and suggestions made by participants would help Ninh Binh to devise plans and programmes on developing the gift and souvenir market in the coming time.

Basing on the outcomes of the seminar, local administrations at all levels, departments, sectors, and related units will build plans to  develop the gift and souvenir market.

They will organise contests on designing gifts and souvenirs; study some policies to support organisations, individuals and craftsmen in producing gifts and souvenirs that feature the culture, history and tradition of the ancient capital, he said.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy