Tough year for Quang Nam tourism industry

Local tourism must maintain last year’s growth rate in the first few months of 2009 or Quang Nam would face difficulties for the whole year, warned Tran Minh Ca, deputy chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.This year the province’s tourism industry is aiming to welcome 2.3 million visitors, an increase of 3.5 per cent over 2008.
The central province is taking measures to help stimulate tourism and assist companies in the field in reaching their targeted growth rate.
This year, Quang Nam will organise cultural events and exploit traditional festivals, like the Spring Festival 2009, the Thu Bon Festival and My Son’s tenth anniversary as a world heritage site, to attract tourists.
Ca said that the province would also stimulate tourism consumption by pouring VND4 billion(US$230,00) into new tourism programmes and advertising.
Quang Nam will offer 30-50 per cent discounts on tours and will increase rush hour services.
The provincial People’s Committee was ready to help tourism companies solve any issues dealing with capital and taxes, Ca said.
The province would also improve infrastructure in the ancient streets and encourage hotels to open more tours to Quang Nam.
Despite the world recession, the number of visitors to Quang Nam still increased in 2008.According to a report by the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the province had nearly 2.23 million visitors, up 7.9 per cent over 2007.
The number of foreign visitors increased by 2.2 per cent to 469,000. The tourism industry added VND769 billion to the province’s coffer, increasing 28.4 per cent from 2007.
Tourists coming from distant locations like Europe and the US decreased, while regional tourists from Malaysia and Thailand increased by 21.6 per cent and 41.4 per cent respectively.
For Quang Nam, the beginning of 2009 will be a crucial time to attract tourists at a time when numbers are dwindling nationwide. Travel companies in HCM City and Ha Noi said that many tours to Viet Nam had been cancelled recently due to the world recession.
VietNamNet/VNS

Delphin Voyager brings 500 Germans to Vietnam

The five-star cruise ship Delphin Voyager docked at Saigon port on February 4, bringing 500 German tourists and crewmen to Ho Chi Minh City.During their week-long stay, they will be divided into groups to explore the culture and lifestyle of HCM City and several Mekong Delta provinces.
A group of 210 visitors will make a tour of Tien Giang province while another group of 80 visitors will travel to Binh Quoi tourist village and experience a traditional Vietnamese wedding.
The cruise ship is scheduled to travel to the northern border province of Quang Ninh where they will visit the UNESCO-recognised heritage site, Ha Long Bay, and then to Hanoi.
VietNamNet/VOV

Ba Ria – Vung Tau culture & tourism festival kicks off

With the theme “Resounding Seaside Town”, the Ba Ria –Vung Tau Culture and Tourism Festival 2009 opened in Vung Tau City on February 2nd.

2009 is the third successive year Ba Ria – Vung Tau Province has hosted this event, with the expectation of attracting even more tourists as this is the Year of the Water Buffalo. The event is expected to be the biggest event held so far to display the distinctive cultural and tourism features of the Province, as well one which will help tourists and local residents get an overall view of Ba Ria-Vung Tau’s land and its people. The event will also include the firing of cannons, military re-enactments of legendary battles of the anti-American war of resistance, displays of spring flowers, wine, food, photo exhibitions, traditional games, lion dances and tradtional canoe races. Chairman of the Ba Ria – Vung Tau People’s Committee Tran Minh Sang said that the event will be a chance to promote the Province’s natural beauty and its tourism potential, as well being a way to show off local hospitality to tourists. A planned series of major cultural, tourism and sports events for 2009 were been announced at the opening ceremony of festival, all of which are designed to attract even more domestic and foreign tourists. In 2009, the Province will have 15 events, in particular the International Kite Festival, the International Women’s Beach Volleyball Championship and the Miss World Pageant.

VietNamNet/CPV

Visitors say Vietnam’s largest tourism spot a rip-off

Visitors are increasingly frustrated with the services and facilities at the country’s biggest tourism spot, Dai Nam tourist area in Binh Duong Province.

Many complained about having to walk nearly two kilometers from the ticket booth to reach the main gate.
The administration seems to be unprepared for handling a large number of visitors. There are not enough buses to transport them though Dai Nam is a large area involving long distances, visitors said.
They had to queue for food, which is poor but is sold at unreasonable prices.
There is a shortage of shaded areas to rest and signs indicating routes, they said. Unfinished and slipshod work mars the landscape, rubble and rubbish are strewn everywhere, and roads are flooded, they said. The 450-hectare Dai Nam tourist area, which opened in 2007 in Thu Dau Mot town, has a zoo, mountains, a pagoda, and beaches.
VietNamNet/SGGP