New normal, many destinations are busy organizing large-scale hot air balloon festivals
In an effort to revive the tourism industry after Covid-19, many destinations across the country have been focusing on diversifying unique and memorable tourism experiences. In particular, the hot air balloon festival is considered the opening event for the tourist season in many famous tourist destinations.
At the end of January 2022, Ho Chi Minh City organized an event to release 16 hot air balloons floating at the Saigon River Tunnel Rooftop Park. Up to now, many other famous tourist destinations have simultaneously organized large-scale hot air balloon festivals such asHanoi tourism welcomes 2022(March 25), hot air balloon festival on Hoai River - Hoi An ancient town (March 25), Da Nang hot air balloon festival (March 27).
Hot air balloon festival in Hoi An (Quang Nam) - Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An
At the end of March, Vietnam will host an international hot air balloon festival in Tuyen Quang, bringing together 20 hot air balloons from countries around the world such as the UK, the US, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Thailand, Spain and the Netherlands.
Phan Thiet is the first place where tourists have the opportunity to experience a hot air balloon tour. The hot air balloon flight lasts for 60 minutes, and visitors can see the whole city center, beach, and sand dunes of Mui Ne from above.
Hot Air Ballooning - A New Adventure Travel Trend in 2022
The ASEAN Tourism Strategy (ATSP) 2016-2025 states that adventure tourism should be focused on Southeast Asian countries with the advantage of tropical nature, adjacent forests, seas, and islands, and relatively developed infrastructure. Although the two types of adventure tourism, SUP and trekking, are very popular, up to now, the hot air balloon tourism experience is becoming popular in the Southeast Asian region.
In Vietnam, hot air balloon tourism has been active in recent years but still has few participants. However, this year many new destinations have officially promoted and organized large-scale festivals associated with this type of adventure tourism.
The reason why hot air balloons are called adventure activities by experts is because they can only fly vertically, the activity depends a lot on the wind direction. At the same time, the take-off and landing areas must be free of obstacles and have suitable meteorological conditions. In addition, hot air balloons can only fly in wind conditions of level 3 or lower and it is not raining. In case of bad weather, the hot air balloon show or tour will be postponed.
The last day of the Hot Air Balloon Festival in Hanoi (March 27) had to be postponed due to bad weather - Photo: Kincoi
Ballooning is considered an adventurous experience, often associated with personal challenges, risk perception and manageable dangers. Adventurous travelers are considered to be risk takers and are willing to pay for exciting and authentic experiences. They often seek out new, less-known destinations and activities.
In addition to the adventure, hot air balloon flights give visitors a more peaceful feeling than many other flying activities. Wanderlust magazine explained the appeal of hot air balloon flights by saying that visitors can “separate themselves from the crowd and experience the thrill of seeing the world from above by hanging in the sky”. In many places around the world, in addition to the experience of sightseeing, visitors also choose to hold birthday parties, proposals, and weddings on hot air balloons.
Some other experts consider hot air ballooning as an activity of aerial geotourism. This is the result of the combination of Earth science, tourism and aviation together. This type of tourism promotes to visitors the grandeur of the scale and landscape of the natural characteristics of the destination such as deserts, valleys or geoparks.
Lessons from the success of Cappadocia and Taiwan
In Cappadocia (Türkiye), there are 27 hot air balloon companies operating with 280 hot air balloons in 2021. Thanks to the unique geological landscape with thousands of fairy-tale chimney-like stone columns and suitable meteorological conditions, this place welcomes and serves about 500,000 tourists with 250-270 hot air balloon flight days per year.
From the success of Cappadocia, many cities in Türkiye have applied to the Civil Aviation Authority to register and open hot air balloon flights for tourism, mainly for international visitors.
Hot air balloon ride over the "mushroom valley" of Cappadocia, Türkiye - Photo: Internet
Taitung (Taiwan) was honored in the top 12 places to hold the most brilliant Hot Air Balloon Festival in the world - Photo: Internet
In Asia, Taitung (Taiwan) is honored inTop 12 most brilliant hot air balloon festival locations in the world.Every year, the Luye Township Hot Air Balloon Festival is held from late June to mid-August, attracting more than 1 million visitors. This is a highland area with an average altitude of about 350 meters, surrounded by mountains and the East Rift Valley. This event contributes to promoting the natural beauty and the ability to bring attractive economic benefits when using hot air balloons as a tool for tourism development.
In Southeast Asia, Malaysia has successfully organized many international hot air balloon festivals in Putrajaya city - the country's new administrative center.
Conclusion
Hot air ballooning - a new adventure sport experience, promises to open up opportunities for many destinations across the country to diversify tourism products and services. However, for festivals and hot air balloon tours to operate year-round, it depends a lot on weather factors. Not all provinces and cities have beautiful sunshine all year round, such as the cold season in the North or long storms and floods in the Central Coast. Some destinations even have a situation of learning the same products and services of festival performances and hot air balloon tours, so tourists see the same overlap and monotony wherever they go.
"Flower lanterns" on the night of March 26, Hoi An - Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An
Photo: Ngo Tran Hai An
What is needed now is for each destination to consider whether the local tourism products and landscapes are truly suitable for the adventurous experience of hot air balloons. If implemented, hot air balloons are considered a new tourism tool that supports the local general product and service chain, thereby maintaining the image of the destination as always interesting in the hearts of tourists. Minimize the situation of rushing to do it "once and done" and tourists also do not want to come back, leading to economic efficiency and unsustainable media promotion. Because the attractiveness of a destination, whether before or after the outbreak, still requires difference and creativity, synchronous marketing ability along with the hospitality and sincerity of local people.
