(TITC) - On July 19th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MoCST) held an online conference simultaneously in Ha Noi, Da Nang City and Ho Chi Minh City under the chair of Minister Hoang Tuan Anh.
According to the MoCST's report, in the first 6 months, in spite of global economic recession, the tourism sector still gained positive growth. Total international arrivals in 6 months reached 3,540,403 representing a 2.6% growth over the same period of 2012; total revenue achieved 105 trillion VND, up 23.5%.
Mr. Nguyen Duc Tuan, Director of Representative Agency of MoCST's Office in Da Nang City informed that many tourism events were organized in the Central region attracting a large number of tourists such as: 4th Buon Ma Thuot Coffee Festival - Buon Me Thuot coffee, integration and development (Dak Lak Province), Hue Traditional Craft Festival 2013 - the Quintessence of Vietnamese Crafts (Thua Thien Hue Province), Danang International Fireworks Competition - Love for Han River (Da Nang City), the 10th anniversary of UNESCO's recognition of Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park as a World Natural Heritage Site...
The number of international tourists to the South of Viet Nam also increased. Top destinations included Ho Chi Minh City with 1.9 million arrivals, Ba Ria - Vung Tau with 248,095 arrivals..., Acting Director of MoCST's Representative Agency in Ho Chi Minh City Le Van Hung said.
Speaking at the conference, Director General of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism Nguyen Van Tuan affirmed the positive result of tourism sector. Especially, TripAdvisor, a world-class travel website, listed four cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An, Ha Long) in Top 25 destinations in Asia and three museums (The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, the Vietnam Museum of Ethnology and the Vietnam Women's Museum in Hanoi) in the 25 most attractive museums in Asia, reinforcing reputation of Viet Nam tourism on international arena.
In addition, investment in tourist accommodation systems has been fostered with big projects as Ho Tram Strip Resort (Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province) with 542 rooms, Havana Hotel Nha Trang (Khanh Hoa Province) with 1,200 rooms, Mariot Hotel Hanoi with 500 rooms, Novotel Hotel Danang with 500 rooms, Languna Lang Co Resort (Thua Thien Hue Province) with 325 rooms...
Addressing at the conference, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh directed, in the coming time, tourism sector needs to focus on proposing amendment of Law of Tourism, completing master zoning plans for regional tourism development, improving tourism environment, fostering inspection of destinations, tour operators and hotels...
Hong Thanh