Lao Cai is recovering tourism after impact of Covid - 19
Impact of COVID-19 pandemic caused the growth of Lao Cai tourism industry to decline significantly over the same period in 2019. The total number of tourists to Lao Cai in 2020 reached 2.2 million, a decrease of over 50% compared to the same period in 2019In 2020, the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic had a great impact on the economy of the world in general and Vietnam in particular. As a northern mountainous province of the country, with a cool climate all year round, Lao Cai is an attractive destination for domestic and foreign tourists to visit. However, due to the impact of Covid-10 pandemic, cooperation and external relations activities in the fields of culture, sports and tourism have not been carried out according to created plan. Many activities have to be delayed or suspended, affecting progress as well as ability to complete annual plan. In particular, due to implementation of instructions on prevention and control of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lao Cai has stopped welcoming international tourists since March 2020.
In order to ensure culture, sports and tourism activities, especially festivals and tourism activities, to ensure safety for people and tourists, there are solutions to direct departments and units to adjust activities of culture, sports and tourism in the direction of prevention, "adapting" to the development of the pandemic and resuming in time when the pandemic ends. Therefore, the progress of implementing the tasks of the industry is slow compared to the plan, but quickly resumed operation and initially achieved positive results, especially the tourism industry.
Tourists observe golden autumn on the highland of Bat Xat
By 2020, the total number of visitors to Lao Cai reached 2.2 million, a decrease of 57.9% over the same period in 2019, reaching 39.1% of the year plan, reaching 86% of the adjusted year plan. In which, international visitors reached 100,840 arrivals, decreased 87.5% over the same period in 2019; Domestic tourists reached over 2 million arrivals, decreased 52.3% over the same period in 2019. Total tourism revenue reached 6,370 billion, decreased 66.8% over the same period; in which the total international tourists revenue reached 1,165 billion, down 78.6% over the same period; total domestic tourists revenue reached 5,644 billion, decreased 59% over the same period.
Tourists to key tourist areas of the province decreased sharply over the same period. The total number of visitors to Sa Pa in 2020 reached 1,286,000 arrivals; including 72,850 international visitors, 1,214,000 domestic tourists. Tourists to Bac Ha district reached 261,100 visitors, including 12,200 international visitors, 249,000 domestic tourists. Tourists to Lao Cai city reached 640,000 arrivals, including 29,300 international visitors, 610,600 domestic tourists.
In the coming time, Lao Cai tourism industry will continue to build and complete the scenario of stimulating tourism growth in order to soon restore tourism industry after heavy impact of COVID-19 pandemic, a target for 2021 is 5 million visitors, including 400,000 international visitors, 4.6 million domestic tourists; Estimated revenue is VND 16,008 billion, in which revenue from international visitors is 2,760 billion, domestic tourists is 13,248 billion. Implement the tasks of tourism development project for the period of 2021-2025 and development orientation of tourism products in the period of 2021-2025.
Develop tourism products with high potentials and competitive advantages, giving priority to building tourism products in association with natural and cultural potentials of Sa Pa National Tourist Area and two districts of Bat Xat and Bac Ha. From now to 2030, Lao Cai is determined to build 130 new tourism products to meet the diverse needs of tourists, ensuring sustainability, attracting high spending visitors and repeated visitors many times.
