Sapa to promote development of unique tourism products

According to the plan, the Sapa national tourism area covers the entire Sapa district, including a 1,500-hectare core region focused for tourism development.

It will feature a Sapa tourism city and four tourism subdivisions, namely Ban Khoang – Ta Giang Phinh (in Ban Khoang and Ta Giang Phinh communes), Ta Phin (in Ta Phin commune), Ta Van – Seo My Ty (in Ta Van commune) and Thanh Kim (in Thanh Kim commune), with connection to Bat Xat district.

Sapa will step towards developing three major tourism products, including peculiar tourism products, sightseeing tourism and ecotourism associated with resorts. Peculiar tourism products will be accelerated aiming to enable visitors to enjoy the climate, natural landscapes and cultural identities of native people.

Auxiliary tourism products include spiritual tourism associated with a system of pagodas and temples in the Fansipan cable car recreation complex; spiritual relic sites in the region; tourism associated with traditional cultural festivals; commercial tourism associated with sightseeing and shopping at trade centers and traditional markets; tourism associated with trade activities in border areas; ecosystem associated with environmental education; and adventure sport tourism.

In regards to organisation of tourism development spaces, Sapa will develop ecosystem associated with environmental education at Hoang Lien National Garden in Sapa district and Bat Xat natural conservation area; community tourism sites at ethnic villages; and tourist attractions including Muong Hoa Valley, Bac Waterfall, Tinh Yeu (Love) Waterfall, Ta Phin Cave, Thien Sinh Bridge, Lung Po Flagpole and Muong Vi Cave.

The master plan targets Sapa meeting criteria and recognized as a national tourism area by 2020. It also aims to develop the Sapa national tourism area into a national- and international-level resort and cultural tourism center by 2030, with a modern and synchronous infrastructure system; diverse, unique and high-quality tourism products; and high competitiveness against other countries.

The Sapa tourism area is planned to welcome about two million arrivals of visitors in 2020 and 5.2 million arrivals in 2030.