Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai Province speaking at the event (Photo: Lao Cai News)

Speaking at the event, Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai Province said, in 2023, Lao Cai has overcome the difficult period affected by the Covid-19 pandemic and developed rapidly and strongly, becoming the "locomotive" of the Northwest region in particular and the Northern midlands and mountains of Vietnam in general. During the year, Lao Cai successfully organised many attractive tourism programmes and events, associated with cultural characteristics and national identity; investment in tourism products is increasingly diverse, better meeting the increasing needs of domestic and foreign tourists. In particular, the series of activities celebrating 120 years of tourism in Sa Pa has made an important contribution to the growth and recovery of tourism activities in the province.

Lao Cai tourism has welcomed over 7.2 million visitor arrivals, of which domestic visitors reached over 6.7 million trips, international visitors over 500 thousand arrivals, an increase of 71% compared to 2022, reaching 121% compared to 2023 plan. Total tourist receipts reached more than VND 22 trillion, increased by 48.9% compared to 2022, reaching 108.5% compared to the 2023 plan. Lao Cai tourism has become a bright spot on Vietnam's tourism map and a bright spot in the province's economic growth.

Mr. Zhao Wei, Director of the Cultural Department of Honghe Hani, Yunnan Province (China) speaking at the event (Photo: Lao Cai News)

With these positive results, in 2024 Lao Cai tourism strives to welcome 8.5 million visitor arrivals, with total tourist receipts of over VND 27 trillion. To achieve the above goal, Lao Cai will focus on perfecting and improving the quality of existing tourism products and building new tourism products, striving to become the leading "green" and "smart" nature tourism and adventure sports destination in Vietnam and the ASEAN region. Developing tourism associated with traditional cultural identity to bring domestic and international tourists special experiences and emotions on each journey.

​Director of Lao Cai Department of Tourism affirmed that Lao Cai always accompanies businesses in developing tourism products, connecting markets as well as creating the best conditions for travel businesses from both sides to cooperate in tourist transportation activities. At the same time, Lao Cai Province hopes that the Honghe Hani side will continue to create more favourable conditions for the travel businesses of both sides to focus on developing the golden tourism programme "Two countries, six destinations" that the two sides have built together has become an attractive, outstanding tourism product and brings positive effects.

Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai Province gifting souvenir to Mr. Zhao Wei, Director of the Cultural Department of Honghe Hani, Yunnan Province (China) (Photo: Lao Cai News)

Mr. Zhao Wei, Director of the Cultural Department of Honghe Hani, Yunnan Province (China) gifting souvenir to Mr. Ha Van Thang, Director of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai Province (Photo: Lao Cai News)

Speaking at the event, Mr. Zhao Wei, Director of the Cultural Department of Honghe Hani, Yunnan Province (China) said, in the past year, many tourists from both countries travelled back and forth to visit and relax in Lao Cai Province and Yunnan Province. He hopes that in 2024 the two localities will continue to promote and join hands to build quality, branded tourism products; strengthen the construction of the tourism market and train human resources working in the tourism sector; regularly organize tourism advertising and promotion activities; do well in cultural and sports exchange activities; strengthen close cooperation in all fields, including tourism to develop together…

Overview of the event (Photo: Lao Cai News)

At the programme, representatives of tourism associations and travel agencies from both sides focused on discussing issues related to tourism development such as: strengthen cooperation in tourism development; travel agencies on both sides need to have a close and effective cooperation mechanism; develop new tourist destinations and routes...

A number of pictures of leaders of the Department of Tourism of Lao Cai Province (Vietnam)  welcoming the delegation of the Cultural Department of Honghe Hani and Yunnan - China travel associations and businesses:

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