(TITC) – In order to promote and develop golf tourism, Hai Phong City and Tien Phong Newspaper held a seminar "Hai Phong - Golf tourism destination" on the afternoon of 9th August 2023.
Opening the seminar, journalist Le Xuan Son - Editor-in-Chief of Tien Phong Newspaper said that the seminar belongs to the framework of the National Golf Championship 2023 - VinFast Cup taking place from 8 - 12 August in Hai Phong. The seminar was organized with the desire to analyze the potential, assess the current situation and propose solutions to develop Hai Phong golf tourism in particular and Vietnam in general.
Mr. Le Khac Nam - Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee said that Hai Phong tourism products have developed diversely and have formed new tourism products such as yacht tourism, sport tourism, agricultural – rural tourism and culinary tourism. In which, food tour and golf tour have strong effects, becoming the advantages of Hai Phong.
Mr. Le Khac Nam - Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh – Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism emphasized that Vietnam is considered as the ideal golf paradise of Asia with diverse terrain, long coastline, majestic landscape, tropical climate, abundant sunshine year round. The World Travel Awards Organization (WTA) has voted Vietnam for 6 consecutive years as Asia's Leading Golf Destination (2017 - 2022) and World's Leading Golf Destination in 2019, 2021.
"With four international-standard golf courses and two golf course projects being implemented in the near future, Hai Phong has been attracting a stable number of domestic and foreign tourists", VNAT’s Chairman Nguyen Trung Khanh commented.
Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh – Chairman of the Vietnam National Authority of Tourism
At the discussion session, Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Mai - Director of Hai Phong Department of Culture and Sports said that it is necessary to develop the sports economy with connection of tourism and sports like football, marathons and golf. Hai Phong has many advantages to develop the tourism industry in general and golf tourism in particular due to the convenient transportation with airports and highways connecting many provinces/cities and rich culinary culture. At the same time, golf is one of the key sports that the city focuses on investing in.
Representative from Vietnam Airlines informed that in early 2023, Vietnam Airlines and Hai Phong city signed a comprehensive cooperation agreement. Accordingly, Vietnam Airlines will increase to promote Hai Phong tourism destination, including golf tourism destination in media magazines of Vietnam Airlines.
In addition, Vietnam Airlines has been implementing free baggage allowance and free golf set allowance; upgrading to business class for customers buying flexible economy class tickets to create favorable conditions for golfers in general, high spending customers. At the same time, preferential business class fares on flights between Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang - Hai Phong.
Ms. Tran Thi Hoang Mai - Director of Hai Phong Department of Culture and Sports
In 2022, Hai Phong tourism industry welcomes 7 million visitor arrivals, an increase of 89% over the same period, of which 610 thousand international visitor arrivals. In the first 6 months of 2023, Hai Phong tourism continues to maintain its growth momentum, welcoming nearly 3.5 million visitor arrivals, of which more than 493 thousand international arrivals.
Besides the strength of beach leisure, spiritual cultural tourism, food tour attracting a large number of tourists, especially young tourists, Hai Phong is a destination of golf tourism with a system of high-class golf courses.
Hai Phong possesses diverse cultural resources including Bach Dang River, Temple of Trang Trinh Nguyen Binh Khiem, Hang Kenh Communal House along with Cat Ba National Park, Lan Ha Bay.
In the tourism development strategy, Hai Phong City People's Committee orients to develop four-season tourism by promoting associated products, especially focusing on developing MICE tourism products and golf tourism.
Tourism Information Technology Center. Photo: Event organizers