Sapa adapts to tourist demand

Sapa has left a good impression on tourists due to its beautiful landscape. However, there are some “negative phenomena”, which have made visitors unhappy. Our VOV News reporter interviewed Mai Quang Trung - Secretary of the Sapa district Party Committee on new directions for local tourism development.
Sapa is a famous tourist site but the behavior of some local residents has annoyed tourists. What will Sapa do to overcome these shortcomings?
Currently, we are devising a project to generate jobs in order to limit the number of women and children hawking goods in the town. The objective of the project is to encourage ethnic minority groups to get involved in promoting tourism activities. This is a key to rapid and sustainable development for the tourism sector in Sapa.
Currently, we have five communes involved in tourism activities. We will expand this model in the near future. In these communes, local residents have built big houses on stilts so that tourists can live with them. The owners of these houses make brocade and handicraft products to sell to visitors. At these communes, children and women will not be allowed to peddle goods in Sapa town. Local authorities will also take drastic measures against those defying the rules and regulations. This project will officially kick off this year.
It seems that tourist activities in Sapa are still seasonal and have not attracted visitors all year around. This causes considerable hardship for tourism investors. How can these shortcomings be overcome in future?
Currently, Sapa focuses on exploring its cultural potential. The cultural sector of Lao Cai province plans to hold more festivals to make visitors better understand its cultural tradition.
We are also focused on promoting the beautiful landscape of Hoang Lien Son Mountain to court tourists in the dry season. Normally, domestic tourists go to Sapa in summer while foreign tourists come in winter.
We see many ethnic girls guide tours in Sapa. Most of them set up their tours independently. In future, what will Sapa do to establish a professional staff of tour guides?
Currently, around 12 local and international travel agencies are operating in Sapa. All tour guides are well trained and possess licenses .The phenomenon you mention is attributed to the local authorities’ poor management. In recent times, we have conducted training courses for travel agencies and companies. Each year, Sapa spends money on training tour guides, and hotel managers. The district also warns tourists about bad localities, which have not implemented their tourism activities well.
In the near future, how can Sapa create its own tourism products to introduce its unique image to tourists?
Sapa is devising a programme to develop craft villages. In fact, the district has many traditional crafts including brocade weaving, stone carving, and Vietnamese and Chinese traditional medicine for bathing.
In future, it plans to implement agricultural activities to develop its tourism sector. For example, Sapa will build Vietnam’s largest trellis of chayote and flower fields so that tourists can visit and buy these products.
Sapa is also very famous for salmon. Many people say that it can earn big revenue by selling tickets to tourists to visit salmon breeding areas. According to statistics, 99 out of 100 tourists arriving in Sapa, visit salmon breeding areas.
Do you think Sapa can make the best of its tourism potential?
There is a plan afoot to restructure the town. Sapa will be expanded and divided into main areas such as the downtown, the hotels/restaurants area, the tourist administrative area and the newly expanded section. Experts recommend that local people keep sites harmonious with their natural surroundings. In 2004, the province issued a regulation to control the Sapa urban area in terms of construction density, maximum height (not exceeding 12 metres), and construction materials.
Currently, Sapa is also upgrading its infrastructure including roads, electricity and the water system. Sapa will be expanded into the northwestern and southeastern region with a total area of 750 ha compared to the current area of 150ha.
One-third of tourists to Sapa are foreigners from 90 different nationalities. The district’s tourism sector accounts for 6 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In 2008, the number of tourists to the district reached only 85 percent of its target, but total revenue was higher than expected.