Bac Giang has spectacular natural, cultural and historical identity, which is seen as a huge advantage and potential for tourism development. Tourism investment promotion has produced positive results over the past time. Vietnam Business Forum Magazine has an interview with Mr. Tran Van Dung, Deputy Director of Bac Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Ha Thanh reports.
Could you please tell us about tourism investment results of Bac Giang province in the past time?
Every year, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism actively disseminates and introduces potential and opportunities of tourist attractions to investors in various forms such as central and local mass media, books, newspapers and other publications. In 2018, the department advised the Provincial People’s Committee to open the Tourism Investment Promotion Conference and the provincial government handed 16 investment licenses and investment memorandums to businesses for projects worth over VND35 trillion (US$1.5 billion). In early 2019, the Provincial People’s Committee inaugurated the first stage of Tay Yen Tu ecological and spiritual tourism area (Son Dong) covering 133 ha. The first phase cost VND800 billion (US$35 million) for construction, including cable cars to Dong Pagoda, reception houses and entertainment areas.
On infrastructure investment for tourism development and tourism development support projects, together with the centrally funded budget of VND183.6 billion and the socially mobilized fund of more than VND1,065 billion, the province also carried out the inland port and ferry development scheme in 2016 - 2020; built a new road from National Highway 37 to Trung Son commune, Viet Yen district to attract investment for a golf course and serve the development of Tan Da tourist resort, and constructed an extended section for Provincial Road 293 linking Quang Ninh province with Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism also regularly urged and instructed district-level People's Committees to complete land-use plans and submit to the Provincial People's Committee plans used for key tourist sites and spots in the province.
How can Bac Giang province develop tourism and preserve and promote cultural values at the same time?
Bac Giang province has 500 festivals and rituals, including nine district-level events and the rest at communal and village-scale events. Festive and ritual events, innovatively held, interest people of all walks and tourists from far and wide. Many relics are upgraded and constructed to provide spacious spaces and favorable conditions for people and visitors to practice their beliefs and join festive activities. Typical works include Thuong Pagoda, the cable car system to Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area (Tuan Mau commune, Son Dong district), Ha Temple, Suoi Mo Theater for Folk Arts (Nghia Phuong commune, Luc Nam district), Than Nong Temple and Than Nong Festival (Cam Ly commune, Luc Nam district), Xuong Giang Victory Exhibition and Arts Performance Theater (Bac Giang City).
Could you please describe specific approaches of Bac Giang province to connect internal tours with external ones?
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed tourism development cooperation agreements with eight provinces in the region and Ho Chi Minh City on the principle of fair and productive cooperation to unlock each other’s strengths, potential and identity for joint tourism development. Signatory parties have specific steps for specific phases, objectives and products (locations) like tourism product development cooperation, tourism promotion, tourist exchange, tourism human resource development, tourism development investment and tourism management.
Every year, the department coordinates with members of the Bac Giang Tourism Development Steering Committee, tourist sites and attractions to build tour connection programs to bring tourists to local places of interest and introduce community-based experiential tourism to tourists. Remarkable attractions include Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area, Suoi Mo ecological tourism site, Vinh Nghiem Pagoda, Bo Da Pagoda, Xuong Giang Victory Monument and Uncle Ho Monument. Bac Giang also opened new bus routes from Bac Giang City to Vinh Nghiem Pagoda and Tay Yen Tu spiritual and ecological tourist area.
Thank you very much!
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