HÀ NỘI — Tourism enterprises, experts and managers yesterday discussed ways to promote tourism in the northcentral region after the massive fish death crisis that hit the coastal areas in April.

The conference attracted representatives from Thanh Hóa, Hà Tĩnh, Nghệ An, Quảng Bình, Quảng Trị and Thừa Thiên-Huế provinces.

Nguyễn Văn Tuấn, head of the National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), officially launched a campaign to revive the tourism industry, which suffered serious loss recently.

“The environmental trouble caused major losses for the local economy, including tourism,” he said.

“People are still afraid of travelling to the central region, as they doubt the safety of seafood and water. Many popular tours have been cancelled.”

By the end of this month, the VNAT will organise two familiarisation trips for the media and travel agents from Hà Nội and HCM City to the northcentral region to promote tourism products.

Next month, the VNAT will hold a road-show in Bangkok and Udonthani (Thailand) to introduce the region to the Thai market, which is close and accessible for overland travel.

Lê Trần Sáng, vice director of the Hà Tĩnh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, suggested that apart from beach tourism, the northcentral region can lure tourists with cultural and spiritual products.

“Hà Tĩnh will promote tours to historical relics, pagodas and ecological sites in the near future,” he said.

“While we overcome the environmental disaster, we can also still promote local tourism with the rich and diverse traditional culture and cuisine.”

Also yesterday, the Institute for Tourism Development Research met with media and tourism agency representatives in the northcentral region.

“The tourism potential of the region is very big and we should find a strategy to promote and invest effectively,” said Nguyễn Anh Tuấn, director of the institute.

Solutions include creating specific products that can’t be found in other regions, opening new tours, and upgrading the regional Đồng Hới Airport. VNS