HCM CITY — Tourism will become a key economic sector of the northern province of Ninh Bình by 2025, local officials said at a tourism conference held yesterday in HCM City.

Phạm Duy Phong, director of the Ninh Bình Tourism Promotion Information Centre, made remarks at the conference, jointly held by the Vietnam Tourism Association, Ninh Bình Tourism Promotion Information Centre and HCM City’s Tourism Association.

Speaking of the tourism targets, Phong said that last year the province welcomed 6.5 million visitors, earning revenue of over VNĐ1,700 billion (US$75 million). The province aims to receive 6.7 million visitors this year and 7.6 million visitors by 2020, reaching revenue of VNĐ3,000 million ($132 million).

Ninh Bình Province is an increasing favourite destination for many tourists in Việt Nam. It is land of renowned landscapes, historical relics, traditional trade villages, and varied cuisine. One particularly notable site is the Tràng An Scenic Landscape Complex, a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site in Việt Nam. But the tourism industry in the province wants more help from local officials.

The conference heard many opinions about the challenges facing Ninh Bình Province’s tourism industry. Representatives of many travel agencies, for example, complained about high prices for goods and services.

They suggested Ninh Bình Province tourism industry leaders pay more attention to developing souvenirs, diversifying local specialties to meet visitors’ different tastes and seek effective solutions to the issue of overcharging.

According to Nguyễn Quý Phương, head of the travel industry department under the Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism, the provincial sector should be concerned about promoting itself to the international market. He also suggested the province invest in its infrastructure and human resources to develop tourism sustainably.

Bùi Thành Đông, the general director of Ninh Bình Province’s Department of Tourism, said that the province is diversifying souvenirs by researching and introducing new ones, such as duplicates of Thái Bình Hưng Bảo coins, the first coin in Việt Nam. He added that the sector will co-operate with related industries to enhance the tourism services of the province and offer favourable conditions to travel agencies. — VNS