In marine tourism, Quang Nam has achieved initial results, contributing significantly to the socio-economic development of the locality, but not commensurate with its potential and advantages. Therefore, the province is implementing many solutions to attract investment and promote rapid and sustainable development of marine tourism.
Promoting advantages and potentials
Quang Nam is located in the centre of the central tourism route with many types of tourism characteristics, based on the richness of the system of cultural heritages, the diversity of natural landscapes, the uniqueness of cuisine and the quintessence of traditional craft villages.
The province has a coastline of more than 125 km, with many beautiful beaches such as Cua Dai, An Bang, Ha My, Tam Thanh, Bai Rang, and Tam Tien, along with the famous islands Cu Lao Cham (Hoi An City) and Tam Hai (Nui Thanh District). This is a huge resource for developing sea and island tourism.
Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam Province Nguyen Thanh Hong said that sea tourism activities have made important contributions to socio-economic development in general and the tourism industry in particular. In recent times, the Department has coordinated with departments, branches and localities to advise the Provincial People's Committee on many policies related to exploiting the potential and advantages of coastal areas to serve tourism development.
These policies have attracted many investors to Quang Nam, developing many large tourism projects in the eastern part of the province. Currently, the province has 30 resorts, hotels and coastal accommodation facilities operating to welcome guests. Many large-scale projects have brought international-class amenities to serve tourists visiting and relaxing.
In recent times, Quang Nam has taken advantage of the central government's support capital, local budget capital and other capital sources to develop the transport infrastructure system in the eastern part of the province, creating momentum for the development of marine tourism. The province has invested in transport infrastructure connecting coastal resorts with Chu Lai Airport, Da Nang International Airport, Ky Ha Port and Cua Dai tourist seaport.
Sea tourism destinations such as An Bang (Hoi An City), Cua Khe (Thang Binh District), Tam Thanh (Tam Ky City), Tam Tien, and Tam Hai (Nui Thanh District) have been built and exploited through the Vo Chi Cong coastal route and the coastal youth road system.
With advantages in infrastructure as well as natural advantages, Quang Nam's beaches have been voted and honoured by many prestigious international travel magazines as being among the most beautiful in the world.
Thanks to that, the province has attracted many domestic and foreign tourists to travel and relax, contributing significantly to tourism revenue, as well as creating jobs for coastal communities.
Through tourism activities, some traditional craft villages of coastal villages have been restored and developed, and cultural and religious values and folk festivals have been promoted, preserved and maintained.
According to records, since the Cua Dai Bridge, across the Thu Bon River and Vo Chi Cong coastal road, connecting Hoi An City with Chu Lai Airport, Nui Thanh District, was built and put into operation, it has created favourable conditions for local socio-economic development, contributing to the strong development of sea and island tourism.
In 2024, Quang Nam will welcome more than eight million visitors, exceeding the plan by 6% (up 14% compared to 2023). Revenue from sightseeing and accommodation is estimated at 9.2 trillion VND, up 19% compared to 2023 and social income from tourism is estimated at more than 21.6 trillion VND. The number of tourists staying at coastal hotels and resorts accounts for about 30% of the total visitors. The room occupancy rate is estimated at 60% per year.
Towards developing green and sustainable tourism
Chairman of the Quang Nam Provincial People's Committee Le Van Dung said that the exploitation of sea tourism in Quang Nam is not commensurate with its potential and inherent advantages. The province still lacks specific plans as well as mechanisms, policies, and guidelines for implementing laws related to sea tourism development. Investment in sea tourism infrastructure is not yet synchronous.
Currently, marine tourism activities are mainly concentrated in Hoi An City and the development and exploitation of resource values for marine tourism activities only stop at coastal exploitation. Additional and supporting tourism activities for relaxation, sightseeing, and swimming, are not many, and tourism products such as marine sports have not been developed.
Up to now, the province has had large-scale projects invested and put into operation in the southeast region, but the marine tourism space has not been exploited accordingly. The development of marine tourism by the community is still spontaneous and lacks connectivity.
Awareness of protecting the natural and cultural environment of businesses, tourists and communities is not high. Conservation of resources and environmental protection in coastal tourism activities has not been implemented synchronously. On the other hand, climate change and natural disasters are also detrimental to the development of marine tourism products, posing significant challenges to the restoration and conservation of coastal tourism resources.
In development, Quang Nam always orients marine tourism towards eco-tourism and green tourism. In 2021, the Provincial Party Committee issued a resolution on the development orientation of the southeastern region of the province to 2025, with a vision to 2030, and a resolution on the development of trade and tourism in Quang Nam province to 2025, with a vision to 2030.
Accordingly, Quang Nam strives to build the southeastern region of the province into a chain of urban areas - service centres, tourism - clean industry – and high-tech agriculture, strongly developing the marine economy and coastal areas of the province, playing a key role in the economy.
Specifically, the province will reorganise the project group of Nam Hoi An Urban and Tourism Area, forming new tourist attractions. Large tourist areas in the southern coastal strip, focusing on attracting investment in highly competitive products and services such as large-scale, modern conferences, exhibitions, shopping, sports and entertainment centres in the southeastern region of the province, at the same time, attracting capital sources to invest in Chu Lai Airport and seaports in Nui Thanh District to build a brand for Quang Nam tourism and welcome both air and sea passengers.
To achieve the set goals of developing marine tourism in the coming time, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam Province will continue to coordinate with departments, branches, sectors, units and localities to focus on planning and synchronously investing in infrastructure at coastal tourist destinations.
In addition, the Department will organise space and appropriate zoning for each type of marine tourism product based on capacity assessment and capacity management of destinations, focus on the issue of development divergence, not massive development and develop diverse products in both type and quality to meet the needs of different markets and market segments, contributing to reducing direct competition.
The province will promote the socialisation of investment sources to embellish scenic spots, develop craft villages, restore festivals, and build cultural works, and modern entertainment areas.
The province will also strengthen coordination and linkage in tourism management and development, contributing to diversifying coastal tourism products and at the same time, promoting the image of the landscape and people of coastal localities, increasing the spending of tourists at the destination.
According to the leader of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province, the Department is working with relevant agencies to research and propose policies to support the recovery and development of tourism affected by climate change and natural disasters as well as policies related to marine tourism activities.
In addition, the department will support and create conditions for coastal people to change their jobs from activities that are at risk of harming and negatively impacting the sea to protecting, preserving, and creating sustainable livelihoods, new stable jobs, increasing income for people associated with marine tourism activities and further attract investment in coastal tourism projects.
At the same time, the department will promote cooperation between sectors and fields, promote marine tourism products and improve the quality of tourism services and human resources.
