Other cities and provinces will hold 42 activities as part of the one-year event that begins at the outset of 2018, while another 10 will be held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh province. Photo: sggpnews.org.vn
Hosting the National Tourism Year for the second time in 15 years, Quang Ninh is making meticulous preparations for the event, said Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy.
Highlights of the event will include the opening ceremony and Carnival Ha Long 2018 in Ha Long city, she said, noting that its conclusion is attached with the opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 (ATF 2019) slated for January, 2019.
Programs in the year will include a national paragliding competition, Hue festival, Lang Son peach blossom festival, Da Nang international fireworks festival and Bai Dinh pagoda festival.
The event is expected to draw more foreign tourists to Vietnam and bolster domestic tourism.
It is also hoped to raise public awareness of tourism development in association with protection of marine resources and promote the cultural values and tourism products of Quang Ninh.
Under the Overall Plan for Tourism Development in Quang Ninh, Quang Ninh strives to become an international tourism center and a leading tourism destination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and diverse, high quality and competitive tourism products.
By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, including seven million foreigners, and rake in VND 30-40 trillion (USD 1.3-1.7 billion) in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15 percent to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP).
In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomed 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of seven percent, and earned more than VND 13 trillion (USD 571 million) in revenue, up 23 percent, according to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism.
The world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay alone welcomed 6.3 million tourists and grossed VND 7.7 trillion (over USD 338 million) in revenue, respective increases of 14 percent and 65 percent from the previous year. About 2.7 million of the visitors were foreigners, year-on-year growth of 16 percent.
With a range of stunning landscapes, clear turquoise sea and spectacular limestone pillars together with numerous tourism investment projects, Quang Ninh boasts huge potential to develop tourism.
The province has a coastline of more than 250 kilometers and over 2,000 islets, two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam. The spectacular stretch of coast connects the UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay with majestic natural scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don and Co To islands and Tra Co beach with Cat Ba National Park in the Northern port city of Hai Phong.
Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba island and Do Son beach (Hai Phong city) are slated to be developed into national tourism sites.
Along with the renowned Ha Long Bay, Quan Lan, Minh Chau, Ngoc Vung, Dai beaches in Van Don island district and Tra Co and Vinh Thuc in Mong Cai city have grown in stature among domestic and international tourists thanks to their breathtaking sea and coral reef.
Source: VNA