To develop Hoi An's economy in the new normal, and ensure both economic recovery and COVID-19 epidemic prevention, the Party Committee and the government of Hoi An City have actively mobilized all social resources to draw investment funds for technical infrastructure development, especially key projects, and enhance tourism development to leverage economic development and people’s livelihood improvement.
Solid foundation
In the 2016-2020 period, Hoi An focused on carrying out many consistent support solutions, actively mobilized all investment resources for infrastructure construction, and provided a favorable investment environment for all economic sectors to develop. Some social and economic results exceeded initial plans. Total production value expanded as high as 15.6% a year on average in the 2016-2019 period. The city’s labor structure was shifted, with a higher ratio of non-farm labor. Economic sectors developed diversely and stably. The private economy was dynamically and quickly adapted to the market and the household economy.
The tourism industry of Hoi An continued to play a leading role in the economic structure, with tourist arrivals expanding by 26.5% a year. The industry - construction sector grew well in 2016 - 2019, with output value rising 14.41% a year on average to VND8,475.7 billion. Processing and manufacturing, textile and garment, and leather and footwear continued to account for high shares in the industrial structure. The planning and management of urban areas, natural resources and environmental protection were built towards an ecological city. Cultural events, arts, gymnastics, sports, and entertainment were highly socialized, engaged by many mass organizations and service providers of different sizes and forms. Education and training made headway, with the quality of teaching and learning markedly improved. Class size, facilities and educational equipment were upgraded. National and community healthcare programs were effectively carried out and grassroots medical facilities were strengthened for better performance. The care for war invalids, policy beneficiaries and people with meritorious services was enhanced.
Mr. Nguyen Van Son, Chairman of Hoi An City People's Committee, said: Unlocking potential and advantages, the city government and people have unanimously united efforts to preserve and promote their own values and made substantial achievements. The most prominent is economic restructuring toward a pattern where the share of tourism, service and trade is increasing and playing a leading role. The long-term goals of the local government are to build and develop Hoi An into "Ecological - Cultural - Tourist City"; and harmoniously develop the economy, protect the environment, preserve culture, and ensure social security. Besides, the conservation of Hoi An Ancient Quarters must be associated with conservation of natural landscapes, including rivers, the sea, beaches, islands and river dunes; aligned with conservation of ecological villages and traditional cottage industries and trades; and particularly associated with intangible cultural values, tourism and service development to bring benefits to the whole community.
Active adaptation
In order to actively adapt to the new situation, Hoi An City has focused on deploying highly feasible tourism products while further improving the quality of heritage tourism by carrying out pilot digitization projects for better ticket booking experiences for tourists when they visit the ancient quarters, and expanding the pedestrian street system to Phan Chau Trinh Street.
The city has actively worked with relevant agencies to carry out many plans and solutions to stimulate tourism demand with interesting activities to invigorate the active atmosphere of the ancient neighborhood and create new innovative activities for visitors, he said. The typical cooperation with “Hoi An Memories” Theater creates “Hoi An Wakeup” old town shows. Besides, to meet the tastes of domestic customers, in the near future, Hoi An will upgrade destinations such as the Old Quarters, Tra Que vegetable village and Kim Bong carpentry village by creating characteristic highlights, check-in points, romantic settings, and the friendliness and hospitality of tourism workers.
To ensure a more sustainable development in the future, the city has relocated polluting production facilities to Thanh Ha Industrial Cluster while calling for and attracting businesses to invest in large-scale green projects to generate more incomes for State coffers and provide jobs for local workers.
With two world cultural heritages - Hoi An Ancient Town and Cu Lao Cham Biosphere Reserve, Hoi An will continue to mobilize and use resources effectively, promote long-term sustainable economic development; and has made much progress in construction, cultural and human development, and solved social issues. The city will focus on completing component projects for the Master Plan for Conservation, Restoration and Promotion of World Cultural Heritage Values - Hoi An Ancient Town aligned with tourism development” and the Plan for World Cultural Heritages of Hoi An Ancient Town in 2020-2025, with a vision to 2030”. The locality will invest in technical and social infrastructure development, public utilities, green spaces, lakes, parks, sculptural architectural works and fine arts to embellish the landscape and prepare best conditions for building a smart heritage city.
Source: Vietnam Business Forum
Vietnamese
October 2024
Hanoi