THAI event-management company Index Creative Village has secured a five-year agreement with Vietnamese government and tourism bodies to develop unoccupied areas of Hoi An into a world-class economic-tourism city, aiming to generate at least Bt100 million during the life of the contract.

Kreingkrai Kanjanapokin, founder and group chief executive officer of Index Creative Village, said yesterday that his company had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Quang Nam province and Vietnam Centre (Thailand). 

It plans to turn unoccupied parts of Hoi An, on the central Vietnamese coast, into an economic-tourism city through a number of projects such as hosting festivals and special events to lure Thai and other international tourists.

Kreingkrai said many industrial sectors had foreseen opportunities in Vietnam due to its strong economic growth. The country’s strong labour force, natural resources, foreign-investment laws, free-trade agreements and focus on research and development in science and technology are among its attractions.

He said Hoi An was a uniquely charming city that ranked at the top of Vietnam’s must-visit list for tourists. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) has granted the city World Heritage status, and it is full of beautiful scenery, arts and culture.

This collaboration will see creative events and activities such as the Hoi An Light Festival from January 27 to February 5, 2017. The Hoi An International Marathon, scheduled for next June, will also be a highlight, together with other events to be held in the future.

Kreingkrai said this was a new and important step for his company to emphasise its image of providing creativity for its clients by turning underdeveloped areas into stronger tourist destinations. 

“This joint venture, though it is a new business model for Index, is expected to generate revenue of around Bt100 million for ICV. This is indeed good news.”THE NATION