Quang Ninh

According to a report from Binh Lieu District, 100% of villages have been connected with fibre-optic cable. The district has been continuing to strengthen links, cooperation, propaganda and the development of the tourism market. The promotion methods have been carried out simultaneously on social networking platforms and the information cooperation has been promoted on the infrastructure of Ivivu, Vietravel and Saigontourist, as well as big channels such as YouTube and TikTok.

The district determined that digital transformation is the fastest method to bring Binh Lieu tourism closer to tourists.

According to a survey, the Facebook account "Binh Lieu Tourism" of the Binh Lieu District Tourism Office, currently has 13,000 followers. The page has regularly updated images and video clips on the natural and cultural beauty of Binh Lieu, as well as tourism and cultural activities and events of the district and province.

Specifically, if visitors want to find details about attractions and accommodation information in Binh Lieu, they only need to scan the QR code displayed on the cover photo of this account.

Thanks to the rapid application of digital transformation in tourism in parallel with the improvement of transportation infrastructure, the natural beauty and culture of the Binh Lieu border area is becoming increasingly pervasive, attracting more and more tourists. 

During and immediately after the epidemic (2020-2022), the number of tourists coming to Binh Lieu decreased, estimated at 197,500 (including 73,990 arrivals of staying guests), while revenue from tourism activities was estimated at 96 billion VND. However, from the first quarter of 2023, the number of visitors increased significantly, estimated at 14,780 arrivals, equal to 519% over the same period last year (4,200 staying guests, equal to 339% over the same period); and revenue from tourism was estimated at 7.6 billion VND, equal to 497% over the same period.

Despite being at the forefront of the country with many difficulties caused by the terrain, with its acumen in applying technology to tourism activities, it can be said that Binh Lieu is a typical example of the application of digital transformation to the rapid recovery of Quang Ninh tourism.

Statistics from the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism show that currently, the entire province has nearly 200 out of 370 sightseeing destinations, landscapes, and relics in 13 localities, with information digitised using QR codes.

According to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism, in the coming time, the province's tourism industry will continue to promote digital transformation, and first of all, focus resources and coordinate with agencies and units, to build a digital tourism data warehouse in the province. In particular, to continue to improve the experience for tourists, Quang Ninh is striving to digitise and attach QR codes at 100% of red addresses, and historical and cultural relics in the area. Tourists and residents can visit and learn destination information easily, reducing dependence on tour guides.

The Provincial Department of Tourism coordinates with the information centre under the Vietnam Tourism Administration, to put into use the multi-service application "Vietnam Travel" and core digital platforms in the smart tourism ecosystem, towards nationwide unification and synchronisation of the tourism industry.

At the same time, the province will deploy tools and means to support tourists and tourism businesses in applying for non-cash payments on the Smart Travel Card system, under the Vietnamese card - one national card digital ecosystem, approved by the Prime Minister.

The department will implement the national digital platform “Tourism Management and Business” to support regulators and tourism businesses; implement a unified electronic ticketing system at tourist attractions and recreational facilities in Quang Ninh Province; and promote and sell the province’s tourism products and services in the Vietnam Tourism Yellow Pages.

In addition to adopting digital transformation for tourist services, the provincial Department of Tourism has also worked closely with the relevant sides to promote digital transformation in administrative procedures and destination management.

According to the Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Tourism Department, all 26 administrative procedures under its jurisdiction can now be conducted entirely online, ensuring openness and transparency in facilitating businesses, organisations and individuals involved in the tourism sector. The department’s information portal is also active for providing and exchanging information between regulators, enterprises, people and tourists.

Along with stepping up digital transformation in administrative reform and promotion on digital media platforms, the Tourism Department also supported tourism companies to boost the development of e-commerce.

To date, all tourism companies and agencies in Quang Ninh have launched their websites or social media pages for promotion activities; used online payment accounts to conduct e-commerce transactions and accept cashless payment methods. Business performance data are also reported to the regulators via the web.

In the future, the Tourism Department will continue enhancing connectivity between tourism service companies and technology service providers to develop products appropriate for their needs, thus helping to increase service quality and develop sustainable tourism products.