NINH THUẬN — The south-central coastal province of Ninh Thuận will continue to offer more incentives for tourism investment in order to make the province a safe, friendly and exciting destination to visit.

That’s the message from People’s Committee chairman, Lưu Xuân Vĩnh who was speaking at a conference yesterday.

The aim is to introduce and promote tourism potential, cultural values, famous landscapes and typical tourism products of Ninh Thuận Province. It also created a platform for tourism investors and travel agents to meet and seek new investment and cooperation opportunities in the province.

“Ninh Thuận has many conditions to develop tourism and the facts have shown that in the past five years,” said Vĩnh.

“The number of tourists and tourism revenue of the region have kept increasing, particular during weekend and holidays.”

Last year, the number of visitors to the province reached 1.9 million, a rise of about 11 per cent. Tourism revenue increased around 18 per cent in comparison with the same period in 2016.

He added the province will continue to enhance the environment for tourism investment, reform the administrative procedures, direct the relevant organisations to offer best conditions for investors in order to fully exploit the local tourism potentials.

“The tourism development of Ninh Thuận Province will follow the motto: modest, impressive and stable,” the chairman added.

“Besides preserving the untouched natural features created by the typical climate of the region, the province will also continue programmes of promoting its tourism to the world.”

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Vương Duy Biên also spoke at the event and praised the province’s efforts in developing the socio-economy in general and in particular, tourism.

He suggested the province should focus on strategic resources, actively improve the tourism cooperation and attach cultural heritage preservation with tourism exploitation.

He also said the province should appeal more film producers in order to create “cinematic effects” similar to what Hollywood blockbuster Kong: Skull Island has done to Ninh Bình Province’s tourism.

Itinerary to old capitals

On the same day, authorities and tourism promotion centres of Ninh Bình, Thanh Hoá and Nghệ An Provinces held a conference to promote tourism.

Nguyễn Mạnh Lợi, vice director of Nghệ An Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the three localities are located in a special area as they connect the northern and the central region, and are also a bridge between Việt Nam and Laos.

“It’s easy to find information about beautiful landscapes and must-see destinations of these provinces which are recognised by the UNESCO and the State as heritages such as Hồ Dynasty Citadel, Pù Mát National Park, Tràng An Complex and Cúc Phương National Park,” said Lợi.

“Attending the conference, visitors, clients and partners can learn about the tourism potential of the region and available products. We want to work with travel agents nationwide.”

On the occasion, representatives of the three provinces introduced a new tour connecting remarkable sites of the region, ‘a journey to the ancient capitals of Việt Nam’.

Visitors will discover the historical sites and local culture of the provinces, with some places former capitals of the country under feudalism.

More investment needed

A conference to introduce the tourism potential of the coastal province of Phú Yên was held yesterday.

Travel agents and managers discussed beautiful landscape like Vũng Rô Bay, Đá Đĩa Reef and Mằng Lăng Church as well as signature foods like ‘sea light’ (tuna eyeballs in herbs).

However, Phạm Văn Bảy, vice director of the Phú Yên Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, acknowledged there are many shortcomings in local tourism.

“Infrastructure is an example,” he said. “Although Phú Yên has favourable nature and landscapes, we still need more investment in services and accommodation.”

Trần Thanh Tâm, a tour operator from Vietrantour Company, said she has brought tourists from Hà Nội to Phú Yên since 2014. She realised that the number of tourists to the province is increasing rapidly thanks to the natural beauty portrayed in the film I See Yellow Flowers on the Green Grass, which was shot in Phú Yên Province.

“The site lacks accommodation, services, tourism information, public beaches and human resources to serve tourists,” she said.

Ngô Hoài Chung, deputy director general of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, agreed. “In comparison with neighbouring provinces such as Bình Định, Nha Trang and Gia Lai, Phú Yên hasn’t seen a boom in tourism development.”

He suggested that the province needs more investment and policies to encourage firms to invest in local tourism in the long-term. He added that tourism managers should use promotions focused on the European market because Phú Yên’s nature is suitable with the taste of tourists from this market. — VNS