Walking street in Lang Son city Expectations for an attractive travel product

(LSO) – In order to diversify tourism forms and products, creating a driving force for socio-economic development, Lang Son city is implementing the “Project on building a walking street in Lang Son city”. The project promises to create attractive tourist products, creating a highlight to attract visitors to Xu Lang.

The roads around Ky Lua market area, Lang Son city still have many advantages to develop tourism such as a prime location in the city center; near the tourist attractions in the area; there are many big stores, diverse in items, products for sale such as fashion, souvenirs, cuisine etc. However, the business and daily activities of people around here have been quite messy for a long time, clothing stores, souvenir shops intermix with restaurants, electronics shops right next to the drug stores; no eligible parking etc. These problems make a bustling and potential area for development become lack of cohesion and urban looking. Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Block 1, Hoang Van Thu Ward, Lang Son City expressed: ‘Living here for many years, I realize that this area needs an appropriate adjustment to not only meet the living needs of people but also demonstrate a developed, civilized city which is designed in harmony.’

With the above reality, the People’s Committee of Lang Son City has built a project to build a walking street in the city in order to effectively manage and exploit tourism business and services, with the orientation to create special tourism product, attracting tourists to Lang Son city. On June 12, 2020, the Project was approved by the Provincial People’s Committee in Decision No. 1118/QD-UBND. Accordingly, the city chooses the roads around Ky Lua market including Bac Son, Le Lai, Luong Van Tri, Tran Quoc Toan to renovate, upgrade and decorate items in the operating space of the walking Street.

Functional forces carry out the installation of panel at Ky Lua walking street, Lang Son city

Ms. Hoang Minh Thao, Head of Cultural and Information Division of Lang Son city, said: ‘The construction of the walking street will be conducted on the basis of preserving the cultural characteristics, features and long history of the city. city. It is expected that on October 16, 2020, the walking street around Ky Lua market will be opened and put into operation. According to the calculation of the project, the walking streets will attract about 2,000 visitors/day, during the pilot period (from October 20 to October 2021), they can attract about 4,000 passengers/day. The turnover may reach 3.2 to 3.6 billion/year when they are officially put into operation (from 2022 onwards).

Ms. Nong Bich Diep, Vice Chairwoman of Lang Son City People’s Committee said: in order for the walking street to come into operation in October 2020, right after the project was approved, the City People’s Committee established the Walking Street Management Board. From July 20, people in the city can go to the People’s Committee of Hoang Van Thu Ward to register for sale on the walking street. Currently, we have encouraged nearly 150 business households to change into trading tourism products such as drinks, fast food, cuisine, local specialties, souvenirs, handicrafts and so on. At the same time, we are also actively connecting and associating with travel companies, tour operators, tour routes  to attract tourists, extend their length of stay, bringing opportunities and motivation for tourism development in the city.

Last time, a number of localities in the country such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang, Cao Bang … have been operating effectively their walking streets. Believing that with the available potential and the active participation of all levels, sectors, in the coming time, the walking street in Lang Son city will be opened and put into operation, creating an entertaining space, raising cultural values, stimulating the demand for trade and tourism development for localities; contributing to promoting the beauty of the land and people of Xu Lang to tourists.

In the walking street, there will be space for cuisine specialties in Lang Son; shopping; performing arts and culture; performing folk games etc. The activities of the walking street will take place from 18 hours to 24 hours on Friday, Saturday and major holidays.