Promoting cooperation, exploiting tourism potential

In recent years, despite being affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, cooperation activities have developed comprehensively in terms of economy, culture, and trade. especially border tourism activities between Guangxi (China) and Lang Son province are always focused on maintaining. Especially, right after the COVID-19 pandemic was controlled, from the beginning of 2023, Lang Son tourism sector has actively promoted cooperation activities, exploiting the available potential to promote border tourism.

Officers of Huu Nghi Border Guard Station check administrative procedures for tourists before entering Vietnam

After China adjusted its policy to prevent the COVID-19 pandemic at the border area, entry and exit activities through Huu Nghi International Border Gate have resumed almost to the time before the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr. Lu Jin Rong, a tourist in Pingxiang (China) was one of the first 124 Chinese tourists to Vietnam after the COVID-19 pandemic said: “I choose Vietnam because your country has many beautiful landscapes and friendly people. Last March, 2023, I visited more tourist attractions of Lang Son province and stayed here for one night, then continued to move to Quang Ninh province.”

From mid-March 2023 up to now, an average of 6,000 people per day can go through immigration procedures through Huu Nghi International Border Gate, peak times can reach 8,000 – 9,000 people/day. In the first 6 months of 2023, the province has attracted 2.8 million visitors (up 60% over the same period in 2019), of which nearly 16,000 international visitors (80% are Chinese tourists).

To achieve those results, over the past time, all levels and sectors in the province have been focusing on implementing many solutions to develop tourism. Specifically, the Provincial People’s Committee focused on building and recognizing tourist attractions in the border area such as: commercial tourist spot at Tan Thanh Border Gate Market (Van Lang); Huu Nghi International Border Gate tourist site; Dong Dang International Railway Station Border Gate (Cao Loc)… Notably, from the beginning of 2023 until now, after China reopened tourism, the province’s tourism industry has promoted cooperation activities, coordinated to implement previously agreed and cooperation documents between the two countries such as Minutes of research on construction of tourist and commercial zones at Tan Thanh border gate (Vietnam) and Puzhai (China)

Mr. Nguyen Phuc Ha, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said: Over the past time, we have actively coordinated, exchanged and cooperated with relevant units of Chongzu city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China on tourism issues that both sides are interested. In particular, in order to continue implementing the project “Tan Thanh Trade and Tourism Development” issued by the Provincial People’s Committee in July 2021, at the beginning of 2023, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism held talks with relevant agencies and units of China and reached a common agreement through the Memorandum of Understanding “Tan Thanh Cross-Border Tourism Cooperation Area (Vietnam) – Puzhai (China)”.

The Memorandum of Understanding has 7 main contents, including some typical contents such as The two sides jointly promote the planning and construction of the Cooperation Zone, learn the cooperation development mechanism of the two countries for key tourism resources in the cooperation zone, promote the implement and construction of trade zones, cross-border trade, tourism and entertainment, accelerate the construction of key tourism items in the Cooperation Zone; the two sides shall jointly create favorable conditions for people and tourists to bring valid documents that are mutually recognized by both parties to travel within the cooperation zone; jointly promote policy support for the Cooperation Zone at the national level…

Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (right) presents a souvenir to the leader of the Propaganda Department of Pingxiang, Guangxi, China

Implementing the minutes, in the first 6 months of 2023, there were nearly 20 cultural, traditional and tourism cooperation events between the two countries organized such as Welcoming the first tourist group through Huu Nghi International Border Gate into Vietnam on March 15; Qingming Festival on March 3 of Zhuang ethnic group”; Vietnam – China bicycle race on April 28; China – Vietnam friendly football match, China – Vietnam chess tournament, attending the opening of the border tourism festival in Pingxiang, Guangxi…

Along with that, 7 travel agencies and more than 280 accommodation establishments in the province have also actively implemented solutions to improve service quality. Mr. Ngo Manh Tung, Vice President, General Secretary of Lang Son Tourism Association said: The association has made a grouping of companies that provide services to bring passengers in and out (including travel and transport companies), the group of companies conducts group tours departing weekly (including restaurants, accommodation facilities, etc.) to attract tourists. In particular, there are flexible implementation of incentive programs and discounts depending on the number of guests. At the same time, we also build more channels to promote the province’s new tourist route products.

In order to well implement tourism development cooperation activities, in the coming time, the province’s tourism sector will continue to strengthen cooperation and border tourism management, coordinate to maintain and develop forms of border tourism: self-driving cars, motorcycles, bicycles across the border for tourism, travel to historical and cultural sites (red tourism), green tourism;  strengthen cooperation in promotion and marketing of tourism, coordinate in expanding border tourism products; continue to maintain and promote the effectiveness of the cooperation mechanism in training tourism human resources.