The Hue Festival has been a prominent cultural and artistic event for 24 years, recognized both nationally and internationally. By showcasing the cultural richness of the former capital, this festival boosts tourism and contributes to local socio-economic development.
The Hue Festival, which usually takes place during the peak summer tourist season, is an ideal opportunity to attract visitors. According to Nguyen Van Phuong, chairman of the People’s Committee of Thua Thien Hue, this event significantly contributes to the overall performance of the province’s tourism sector. The increase in the number of tourists in Hue clearly demonstrates that the festival editions enhance the city’s reputation. Additionally, the festival plays a catalytic role in investments by attracting national and international visitors through its tourism offerings. This economic impact directly benefits the residents as community activities and tourism-related services create jobs and provide clear economic benefits.
The majority, 85%, of Hue’s tourist products are related to cultural and heritage tourism. This underscores the crucial importance of Hue’s culture and heritage, especially its festival, in the city’s tourism development, as noted by Hoang Viet Trung, director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Center.
The Hue Festival could attract between 3.5 and 4 million visitors. “We focus on the preservation and restoration of cultural sites to enhance their attractiveness and promote the city’s tourism. The benefits of the Hue Festival have brought tourists back to pre-COVID-19 levels, especially foreign visitors. The new circuits related to the festival have helped stimulate local socio-economic development.”
Preservation and promotion of Hue’s heritage
The resolution of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Vietnam on the development of Thua Thien-Hue until 2030, with a vision to 2045, aims to transform this province into a city directly administered by the central government by 2025, emphasizing the preservation and promotion of Hue’s distinct heritage and culture. The goal is to build a smart city where culture, heritage, and the economy will be preserved and enhanced.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Hang, the Hue Festival is seen as a catalyst to support the province in achieving this goal. “The Hue Festival creates new dynamics to both preserve and promote the city’s rich cultural and heritage legacy and promote local tourism. This event not only contributes to the development of Thua Thien Hue but also that of the coastal provinces of Central Vietnam. It represents a major opportunity for Hue to consolidate its position as an indispensable cultural and tourist center in Vietnam. Thus, the festival is a priority in the province’s development directions in the near future.”
As a leader of the Thua Thien Hue – Da Nang – Quang Nam – Quang Binh – Quang Tri tourism development group, the province has strengthened communication about the 2024 Hue Festival nationwide. It is also worth noting that the International Arts Festival Week of Hue 2024, which began on June 7, coincides with the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2024, which opened on June 8. This has led to collaborations between tourism professionals in the two localities to offer tourists a rewarding experience.
The province of Thua Thien Hue aims to welcome between 3.5 and 4 million visitors, with approximately 30% to 40% being foreigners, in 2024 for a total revenue of about 7,000 to 8,000 billion dong (280 to 310 million USD).