Expectations of a new tourism development stage

In 2022, Binh Duong's tourism industry eyed optimistic signs of a rebound after a long time of being affected by the pandemic. Achievements in the past year are the motivation for Binh Duong provincial tourism industry to further develop in the coming time.

Overcome difficulties

In recent years, Binh Duong's tourism industry has faced many difficulties, many tourism activities and services had to be suspended due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. This has had a significant impact on the province’s overall tourism. Specifically, the total number of tourist arrivals in 2021 was only 640,000, reaching 21.3% of the year’s target; revenue reached about VND500 billion, reaching 59.5%.

Cultural art activities to celebrate the Party - celebrate the Lunar New Year 2023 taking place during the Tet holidays at Binh Duong New City Park attract numerous people.

Overcoming difficulties caused by the pandemic, the province's tourism industry gradually recovered, immediately after tourism activities in the country were reopened. With the determination and efforts of the whole industry, tourism activities in the province have been transformed in a timely manner, adapted flexibly and brought positive signals. The total number of tourist arrivals and tourism revenue in 2022 increased significantly compared to 2021.

Nguyen Thanh Phong, Deputy Director of provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that in 2022, Binh Duong tourism industry was estimated to serve over 1.8 million tourists, reaching 120% of the year plan, up 181.3% over the same period in 2021; estimated revenue was over VND1,400 billion, reaching 117%, up 180% over the same period in 2021.

Currently, the province has 35 travel companies, 4 representative offices, of which 11 international travel agencies. Besides, accommodation services also constantly develop with nearly 250 tourist accommodation providers, with about 7,200 rooms. In addition, the province also has 530 businesses operating in the form of business households with more than 6,700 rooms; and many supermarkets, commercial centers etc. to meet demands of domestic and international tourists arriving in Binh Duong.

New expectations

In the early days of 2023, units in provincial tourism sector continued to implement many activities and programs to meet tourist needs, especially during the 2023 Tet season. Accordingly, Provincial Tourism Promotion Center has coordinated with travel businesses and tourist areas and attractions in the province to organize the introduction, promotion, and tourist information through a program "Spring travel in Binh Duong 2023” at Binh Duong New City Park.

 The center printed and released 2,000 publications to provide and introduce Binh Duong featured tourism products to locals and tourists, such as: ceramics, lacquer, rattan, bamboo weaving, specialty and local cuisine, eco-tourism, spiritual tourism, sports tourism...

In addition, tourist areas and attractions in the province such as: Phuong Nam Resort, Din Ky Green Tourism, Thuy Chau Tourism, Dai Nam Tourist Complex... all build their own programs of activities to serve tourists and to ensure security, traffic order and safety during the spring time.

According to statistics of Department of Culture, Sports & Tourism, in the past Tet holidays, tourist sites and attractions in the province served about 40,000 visitors, total revenue reached about VND16 billion. Compared to the same period in 2022, the number of visitors increased by about 200% (about 20,000). This is a good sign and a motivation for tourism sector to keep striving, further developing Binh Duong tourism.

In order to develop tourism into an economic sector having an important position in the socio-economic development strategy of the province in the future, provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism sets out some key tasks. According to Nguyen Thanh Phong, in this 2023, the tourism industry will focus on a plan to develop rural tourism associated with building a new countryside in 2022-2025 according to Decision No. 922/QD-TTg dated August 2nd 2022 of the Prime Minister and Action Program of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on the implementation of Resolution No. 19-NQ/TW dated June 16th 2022 of the Central Committee; conduct the inspection of minimum conditions in tourist accommodation establishments in 2023.

In addition, the industry will hold a conference to meet travel businesses, put forward tourism development orientation in 2023; carry out tourism market survey, connect travel enterprises in Binh Duong province with travel enterprises in other provinces and cities, learn management experience; enhance information and promotion of Binh Duong tourism images through tourism events and festivals organized by provinces and cities to introduce Binh Duong tourism information, attract tourists to Binh Duong in the near future.

Another task stressed by that tourism industry is to organize Familiarization trips (famtrips) to survey and explore new tourist destinations in the province to connect and build up new tours.

The achievements of the past year and the good news at the beginning of this new year, along with the province’s tourism potential, are the premise and favorable conditions for Binh Duong tourism to continue developing strongly, becoming an important economic sector of the province in the coming time.

Reported by Hong Thuan - Translated by Ngoc Huynh