The Quảng Ninh Province Department of Tourism signs agreements with travel businesses in HCM City for tourism co-operation in HCM City on April 22. VNS Photo Thu Hằng

HCM CITY — The northern province of Quảng Ninh is carrying out a major tourism promotion campaign with a wide range of new products and services, according to its Department of Tourism.

Phạm Ngọc Thủy, director of the department, said the province has fully resumed tourism services, and is offering a slew of discounts and stimulus packages to attract both foreign and domestic tourists.

With its traffic infrastructure well developed now, it is easier to travel to the province by road, sea and air, he noted

The province hopes to attract more than 10 million visitors this year, including 1.5 million foreign tourists, he said.

As a result, its tourism revenue is targeted at some VNĐ21 trillion (US$917.43 million).

The collaboration with HCM City would include incentives for tourism businesses in the two localities to co-operate effectively, he said.

The tourism sector is expected to quickly recover and rebound this year, he added.

Nguyễn Thị Ánh Hoa, director of the HCM City Department of Tourism, said linkages play a vital role in the city’s tourism development.

The tie-up with Quảng Ninh would help tourism development in HCM City, she said.

Quảng Ninh will host seven of the sports at the Southeast Asian Games next month and the National Sports Games in November.

Carnaval Hạ Long is slated to return and will be held on April 29 to kick start the summer travel season. With the participation of about 2,000 actors, the event will run at the Đại Dương (Ocean) Park in Bãi Cháy Ward. It is expected to be rounded off with a firework.      

On th occasion, the city will kick off the operation of its one-year pilot floating night street, which features 30 boats serving food from 5:30pm to 11pm every day.

The Hạ Long - Quảng Ninh tourism week, which will take place on the occasion of the National Reunification Day (April 30) and the May Day (May 1) holidays, will also treat visitors to a series of activities, including a kite flying festival, a dancing festival, a photo exhibition, and a trade fair.

A top tourist destination, Quảng Ninh is famous for Hạ Long Bay which has been recognised twice as a world natural heritage by UNESCO and voted as one of the New Seven Wonders of Nature by New Open World in 2011.

It is home to more than 500 historical relics and scenic landscapes, and also has stunning beaches such as Trà Cổ, Quan Lạn, Minh Châu, and Cô Tô. — VNS