Well-built tourism infrastructure provides momentum for local tourism growth

According to Vice Director of the Department of Tourism Bui Van Manh, the local tourism has seen a strong growth in recent years.Investment has been poured into developing tourism infrastructure and facilities while environmental  hygiene and security order at sightseeing places have been ensured.

He said these factors helped increase the number of visitors to the province in recent time.

Local statistics showed in 2015, the province received nearly 6 million guests, 11 times higher than that of 2001 and earned a revenue of 1.4 billion VND, up 46 times.

In 2016, 6.5 million visitors arrived in Ninh Binh, an increase of 7.5 percent compared to 2015.The figure included 726,000 foreign guests, a rise of 19 percent in comparison with 2015. Total revenue hit 1.7 billion VND, up24 percent.

Over the past 10 years, investment in tourism infrastructure has been boosted, as evidenced by the construction and upgrade of roads to connect tourist spots and improvement on tourism services and facilities like accommodations, spas, entertainment, cultural tourism attraction, eco - tourism, or recreational tourism.

To date, Ninh Binh has lured 60 projects into thet ourism sector with a total registered capital of nearly 40 trillion VND. There are 390 accomodations with luxury hotels and restaurants, meeting the increasing demand of visitors.

Besides, the province has also been focusing on developing new tourism products, and diversifying tourism related activities.

According to orientations for tourism development of Ninh Binh in particular, and of Vietnam in general, Ninh Binh will pay heed to developing ecological tourism in Trang An, Van Long natural reserve, Cuc Phuong National park; and cultural and spiritual tourism in Hoa Lu ancient citadel, and Bai Dinh pagoda.

With its abundant resources, Ninh Binh can develop other tourism types, like water-based tourism, recreational tourism, and MICE.

The province has also paid attention to strengthening tourism connections with other regions and localities across the country.

At present, Ninh Binh has established 19 tours, routes to interesting destinations, including 9 inner tours and 10 inter-region tours that connect the province with neigbouring provinces or countries like: Ninh Binh-Hai Phong- Quang Ninh - China; Ninh Binh - Lao Cai -Sapa - China, Ninh binh - Thanh Hoa - Nghe An…

Luring investors

In an effort to turn tourism into a spearhead economy, the provincial People's Committee has steered the Department of Tourism and related branches, agencies to build a Master plan on Ninh Binh tourism development to 2025 with orientations to 2030.

Paying attention to building tourism infrastructure, and launching new tourism products are seen as important goals of the local tourism sector in the time to come.

Creating incentives to reel in key investors, diversifying tourism products, building Ninh Binh into a city of tourism, completing key projects like Hoa Lu ancient citadel, Trang An landscape complex, Tam Coc - Bich Dong, National wild park, Kenh Ga hot spring - Van Trinh, and roads connecting Bai Dinh and Tam Chuc - huong pagoda - Hoa Lac of Ninh Binh , Ha Nam and Ha Noi provinces have been defined among the key goals of the sector.

The tourism department has been steering related agencies, units to improve tours and routes; develop signature tourism products that feature traditional culture of the locality; open entertainment areas at night; and continue to boost traditional handicrafts like the making of sedge mats,embroidery and pottery items to keep tourists spend more time in Ninh Binh, Manh added.

Translated by Nguyen Thuy