The second DPRK-USA summit held in Hanoi last month is believed to have provided unequivocal success for the capital city’s tourism sector.
Visitors to Hanoi (Source: VNA)
With the world watching the summit closely, the spotlight was on Hanoi and its role as host. Hanoi received substantial international media attention, with famous tourist attractions, the hospitality of local people, and outstanding dishes splashed across international television broadcasts and newspapers.According to the municipal Department of Tourism, more than 541,000 foreigners visited Hanoi in February, up 22 percent from the same month last year. Occupancy at four- and five-star hotels reached 90 percent. Leader of the department attributed the impressive result to the beneficial effect of the summit.As the city expects to welcome more holidaymakers from western Europe, northern America and northeast Asia after the summit, it is working to develop tourism products and infrastructure while improving the quality of human resources. Furthermore, special attention will be paid to promotional programmes to branch out to new tourism markets.Chairman of the Hanoi Tourism Association Nguyen Manh Than said that Hanoi, boasting a wide range of cultural relic sites like the Temple of Literature, the Thang Long imperial citadel, Thap Rua (Turtle Tower), the One-Pillar Pagoda, and the Old Quarters, should make comprehensive investment in tourism infrastructure and create new attractions to leave lasting impression on visitors.Besides luring international travellers to the city, many travel agents have seized opportunities brought by the recent summit to sell tours to the US and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). Hanoi Redtours and Vietrantour are running promotional programmes to boost tour registrations to the two countries. Must-see destinations like the White House, Capitol Building, Kim Il-Sung Square, Tower of the Juche Idea, among others are included in the tours.–VNA
