Spiritual tourism has become an indispensable part in spiritual life for many people. However, currently spiritual tourism is only popular during special occasions like during the spring festival. To tap the sector’s potential, it’s necessary to develop more activities to create a complete tourism product.
Ninh Binh province is famous for its cultural heritage sites, with more than 1,000 years of history.
Using these advantages, the Northern province has promoted spiritual tourism as its key tourism product. To date, Ninh Binh is considered a highlight in spiritual tourism among localities in the Red River Delta region, with spiritual tourism activities taking place year round.
According to Bui Van Manh, Deputy Director of Ninh Binh Tourism Department, the province has two tourism products: eco-tourism and spiritual tourism.
“To attract more tourists we have combined the two products to create a better tourism product,” he said.
Experiences from Ninh Binh province have shown that a spiritual tourism tour package is not only a journey to temples or pagodas, it’s necessary to have more activities with other products, such as cultural tourism, eco-tourism or recreation tourism.
Ngo Hoai Trung, Deputy General Director of the National Administration of Tourism said spiritual tourism is a product combined with many other products.
“In order to promote and ensure the effectiveness of spiritual tourism, comprehensive measures are needed,” said Trung.
However, spiritual tourism tours are behind the demand. Besides, tourists’ spending is mainly on offerings and worship, making it hard for localities to make up for expenses or restoration works.
Le Cong Nang from Vietrantour said to promote spiritual tourism as an attractive tourism product, localities should work closely with travel agencies to have completed services.
Meanwhile Nguyen Quang Trung from TST Travel Company hailed that people in neighboring countries such as Myanmar or Thailand take spiritual vacations all year round, not only during New Year or special occasions.
Spiritual tourism has long been attached with festive activities during New Year in many places of pilgrimage. Promoting spiritual tourism is also a journey to discover traditional belief and cultural values./.
