ĐÀ NẴNG — The citizens of Đà Nẵng City have been asked to smile during the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) summit next month, the most imporant activity of the APEC Year 2017. 

The central city has also allocated 64 resorts and hotels as accommodation for deputies, business people and journalists during the 2017 APEC Economic Leaders’ Summit from November 5-11.

Vice director of the city’s tourism department, Trần Chí Cường, said at a press conference on Thursday that 68 restaurants and 14 shopping centres in the city had also been assigned to host APEC deputies.

Cường said 30 training courses in hospitality, cuisine and conduct had been held for resorts, hotels and restaurants from early this year.

He said the department, in co-operation with Thừa Thiên-Huế and Quảng Nam provinces, would host free tours for all APEC delegates to six destinations, including the UNESCO-recognised world heritage Huế Monument Complex; Ngũ Hành Sơn (Marble Mountains), Bà Nà Mountain resort, Chăm Sculpture Museum, hot spring and night river tours in the Hàn River.

The department also opened three tourism promotion booths at APEC’s Media Centre for the summit week.

At the press conference, chairman of the city’s People’s Committee, Huỳnh Đức Thơ, said the city would give days off to students at some schools and offices to ease traffic on November 10 and 11 – the opening and closing days of the event.

The International Media Centre at the summit will open on Saturday, while a rehearsal for the opening ceremony will be held on Sunday.

The media centre, which covers 1.3ha, will provide working space for nearly 3,000 journalists.

The APEC Summit, being held in Đà Nẵng for the first time, will host 15,000 delegates, journalists, business people and CEOs from 21 member economies.

The city has launched the Smile of Đà Nẵng campaign and Code of Conduct for tourism to raise awareness of APEC among local residents, civil servants and tourists from last month. — VNS