Hue seeks ways to attract more tourists

The Hue Relics Preservation Centre will implement a series of special activities and programmes to attract more tourists to the Complex of Hue Monuments, a world cultural heritage, in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue.

According to the centre’s director Phan Thanh Hai, in addition to already-launched “tourism golden weeks”, between now to the year-end, the centre plans two promotion weeks in September and December this year plus an array of exhibitions showcasing artefacts marking 20 years since the complex was recognised as a world cultural heritage by UNESCO.

During the weeks, tourists will enjoy free electric bus service from the Royal Palace to Hue Royal Antique Museum and a 50 percent reduction in ticket prices for Hue Royal Court Music.

Notably, the centre has invested in increasing electric buses to make tourists’ travel in the Royal Palace more convenient.

The centre said by July 19, more than 1.14 million people, half of them are foreigners, visited the Complex of Hue Monuments. Revenues from tourism reached over 74 billion VND, or 70.7 percent of the yearly target.

Tourism sector scores positive growth in first half

It was estimated that over 3.5 foreign arrivals visited Viet Nam in the first six months of 2013, a year-on-year increase of 2.6%.

Initial statistics showed that the number of domestic tourists reached 24 million, up 12% against the same period last year.

The tourism industry brought back VND105 trillion in revenue, up 23.5%.

In June alone, Viet Nam welcomed around 560,000 foreign arrivals, up 1.5% against last month and 29.6% against the same period last year.

In the January-June period, Ho Chi Minh City continued to be the most favorite destination by luring over 1.9 million tourists, up 5% against the same period last year, followed by the Southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau with 6.46 million guests, up 10.76%.

Viet Nam’s top ten tourism markets include Russia, Thailand, Indonesia, China, New Zealand, Malaysia, Australia, the Republic of Korea, Japan and the UK./.

Six Senses Con Dao among world’s best ecolodges

The world’s famous tourism magazine, National Geographic Travelers (National Geographic Society) has just published the list of 25 best ecological resorts, including Six Senses Con Dao (Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Viet Nam).

This honorable list has been selected and recognized by prestigious geological and tourism experts and researchers of the National Geographic Travelers magazine.

No shirt, no shoes, no problem could be the daily mantra at this Six Senses haven constructed from reclaimed teak, including over a thousand recycled antique wooden panels.

The resort dangles on a slice of world-class beach in Con Dao National Park—a 45-minute flight from frenetic Ho Chi Minh City. Sustainability takes center stage, with initiatives including local and organic meals, no plastic water bottles, and nontoxic biodegradable cleaning products and amenities.

Windsurfing, body boarding, and sailing start right outside the door. But for many guests, the activity of choice is simply immersion in the unspoiled nature that surrounds the private villas.

Festival featuring four countries’ arts to open next month

An art festival between four countries, namely Viet Nam, Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar will be held in the mid August 2013 in Dong Ha City, Quang Tri province.

The Ministry’s Department of Performing Art is responsible for coordinating with the Viet Nam Musicians Association, Viet Nam Association of Dance Artists, Department of International Cooperation, Quang Tri Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, to organize the festival.

The Ministry has also established a Steering Board led by Mr. Vuong Duy Bien, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

It is expected that each country will send 30 participants to the art festival.

Tourism sector earns VND105 trillion in first half of 2013

During the first six months of 2013, the tourism sector has raked in around VND105 trillion (US$4.9 billion), a year-on-year increase of 23.5%.

These figures were released at a preliminary meeting held by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to discuss ministerial activities during the first half.

Vietnam welcomed 3.5 million foreign arrivals in the six-month period, up 2.6% year on year. The number of domestic tourists was estimated at 24 million, up 12%.

In June alone, the number of 567,291 international visitors came to Vietnam, up 1.5% compared to the previous month, and a year-on-year increase of 29.9%.

Culture, sports and tourism activities to celebrate national holidays were held to serve people spiritual lives. The cultural identity and the traditional values of the festivals were carefully preserved to attract both domestic and international tourists.

In the last six months, Vietnam sent delegates in preparation for a wide range of international sporting events including 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, World Games, Asian Youth Games, SEA Games 27, and ASIAD 2014.

For the remaining months of the year, the Ministry urged local authorities to focus on tourism development. They should implement the master plan to develop Vietnam tourism by 2020 and the national action plan on tourism for 2013-2020. It is also important to enhance tourism quality and travel service products, while encouraging environmental tourism and implementing tourism stimulus programmes.

Vietnamese, Lao localities boost tourism cooperation

Vietnam’s northern province of Quang Ninh will cooperate with Luang Prabang province of Laos to develop tourism products and create a healthy tourism environment.

An agreement to this effect was signed by the Quang Ninh Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Luang Prabang Department of Information, Culture and Tourism on July 17.

The two localities will work together to facilitate tourism businesses’ operations and ensure the rights of holiday-makers while actively taking part in activities to promote their images and tourism potential.

Quang Ninh and Luang Prabang will jointly launch tours connecting their centres and tourist sites, support the training of human resources in this field as well as exchange experience in tourism management.

Luang Prabang, once served as the capital city of Laos, is home to many relic sites and landscapes such as Phou Si mount, Kuang Si Falls and the Royal Palace Museum. The town of Luang Prabang was recognised by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage on December 9, 1995.

In the first half of this year, the province earned over 61 million USD from tourism.-

Source: VNA/Nhan Dan/VNS/VGP