The long holiday of April 30 and May 1 associated with the significance of 50 years of reunification has created a boost for "back to the roots" tourism to rise, opening promising opportunities for the upcoming summer tourism season.
This year, associated with the event celebrating 50 years of Southern Liberation and National Reunification, has contributed to bringing new points in the trend of selecting tours, routes, and tourism activities of visitors. Welcoming this wave, the tourism sector of provinces, cities, destinations, and services, including Hai Phong, have been well prepared to welcome a large volume of domestic and international tourists, with expectations for tourism to gain stronger growth momentum.
Boom in "back to the roots" tours
According to general records from travel businesses, about a month before officially entering the April 30 holiday, the tourism market at many destinations in Hai Phong in particular and the whole country in general has become vibrant and bustling with a large number of visitors. Many people have planned their trips early, quickly booking package tours, transportation tickets, and accommodation to get the most reasonable prices.
In Hai Phong, travel businesses have also launched many rich cultural-historical tours, from short journeys in the inner city to long trips connecting with neighboring provinces. The content of the tours not only takes tourists to visit historical relics but also combines with cultural experience activities, helping visitors gain deeper understanding of the history and people here.
Many programs are designed specifically for different groups such as students, elderly people, and international guests. In addition, themed tours associated with museums and architectural heritage systems contribute to increasing the attractiveness of tourism during the great holiday.
Mr. Nguyen Nam Phuong - Deputy Director of Vietravel Hai Phong said: “The April 30 and May 1 holiday this year recorded a clear trend as tourists are increasingly interested in ‘back to the roots’ tours – journeys combining relaxation and exploration of national historical and cultural values. Vietravel has recorded an increase of about 30% in tour registrations compared to the same period last year, with many tours fully booked early.”
“Understanding tourists’ psychology, Vietravel has designed ‘back to the roots’ tours with flexible itineraries, combining visits to historical sites and local cultural experiences. The tours are organized for a duration of 2 to 5 days, suitable for the long holiday period. We also focus on service quality, from transportation, accommodation to tour guides, ensuring comfort for visitors throughout the journey. For ‘back to the roots’ tours, the number of tourists per group is flexible, from small groups of 10-15 people to large groups of 30-40 people, depending on the needs and characteristics of each tour,” Mr. Phuong added.
The "back to the roots" journeys not only take visitors back in history to the “red addresses”, but also bring touching experiences when listening to historical stories, offering incense to honor national heroes, contributing to educating patriotic tradition and values of peace for today’s young generation.
Ready for peak season
Notably, this year’s extended April 30 and May 1 holiday, vibrant cultural and artistic activities organized by localities at tourist destinations have also stirred up patriotism in each individual, creating a wave of “back to the roots” tourism attracting tourists.
Besides historical factors, the attraction of domestic tourism during the holiday has been further amplified by promotional programs from businesses and localities. Many travel agencies have launched discount packages of up to 40% to boost tourism efficiency, ready for the upcoming peak summer tourism season.
Mr. Hoang Van Linh - Director in charge of The Shine hotel shared: “To boost the number of guests to the hotels during the holiday, we have many special offers for visitors booking rooms such as a 10% discount, afternoon tea promotions at the hotel, ensuring the most comfortable experiences for guests. This is also a way for us to effectively promote the hotel’s services and amenities widely.” Young generations and residents in Hai Phong City visit exhibitions to learn about the roots of the country’s culture and history
Regarding transportation in the city, Mr. Tran Van Hanh - Director of Hai Phong Railway Transport Branch said: “Every year, during peak periods like this, travel demand spikes almost every day. Therefore, we have mobilized the maximum number of staff, ensuring work throughout the holiday. At the same time, ensuring the highest technical safety to bring the best experiences to tourists.”
Not only businesses, Hai Phong has also actively promoted tourism during the holiday. The city has organized film screenings on major holidays including feature films, animated films such as “Liberation of Saigon”, “The Gong of Destiny”, “White Smoke”, “Peach, Pho and Piano” as well as photo and document exhibitions with the theme “The country in complete joy”... attracting a large number of residents and tourists in Hai Phong.
Hai Phong City’s thorough preparation before, during, and after the national great holiday is a way to express patriotism, love for the city, and pride in the deep historical cultural tradition. This is also the premise for the Port City to launch and stimulate tourism effectively for the upcoming peak summer tourism season.