The tower of Bái Đính Pagoda lit up at night. VNS Photo Tony Duo

NINH BÌNH More tours to discover Ninh Bình’s urban nightlife and Bái Đính Pagoda will be developed in the near future to bring new experience for tourists, according to Bùi Thành Đông, director of the provincial Department of Tourism.

More than 200 representatives of government and travel companies held a conference in the region to find solutions to promote tourism.

Ninh Bình received 7.5 million tourists including a million foreigners last year, according to Đông. However, received only 2.1 million tourists including 157,000 foreigners from January to September this year, a decrease of 68 per cent.

To increase this amount, Đông said it’s necessary to build new products, renovate traditional tours and especially develop night tourism products to encourage tourists to stay longer.

“If the night activities are attractive enough, tourists will stay longer and consumer more,” he said.

“When tourists stay one night, they will spend money for meals and other services. The fact is that now we can’t meet the goal of number of tourists but I believe that it’s possible to meet the goal of increasing money coming into the region.

“Currently, we manage the relics and beauty spots and protect the environment very well, tourists will not see crowds, beggars or thieves as reported some years ago.”

Dương Thị Thanh, chairwoman of Ninh Bình Tourism Association, said it is necessary to enhance promotion to boost tourism.

"We need the connection and co-operation between travel agents and local service providers and upgrade the quality to attract tourists,” she said. 

Representing enterprises, Trương Quốc Hùng, chairman of UNESCO Hà Nội Travel Club Hà Nội agreed, adding that travel businesses should set up an alliance to share profits, exploit the domestic market and enhance selling products.

“We don’t recommend dropping the price because the low price may lead to the downgrade of service quality, instead, we can offer promotions during weekdays to lower the load at weekends,” he said.   

Nguyễn Tuấn Linh, director of Mr Linh’s Adventures Company, said he had a chance to discover Bái Đính Pagoda at night and had a wonderful experience. The tour started at Hồng Quang Art Stone Centre in the afternoon, then tourists enjoy sunset at Đinh – Lê Kings Temples worshipping Kings Đinh Tiên Hoàng and Lê Đại Hành. The tour ended at Bái Đính Pagoda.

“I have visited Bái Đính Pagoda for many times however this is the first time I came the place at night to enjoy the tranquillity, the beautiful constructions in light and understand more about Buddhism,” he said.

“It’s a chance for people to experience the beauty of the site which you can’t find in daytime, we listen to the monk’s sutra and poems, we enjoy zen singing. It’s a very attractive tour. I will design tours for my customers to the place.”

Due to COVID-19, Ninh Bình will continue to be host of National Tourism Year in 2021. VNS

Tourists at King Đinh Tiên Hoàng Temple. VNS Photo Minh Thu