The People’s Committee of the northern mountainous province of Son La has devised a number of incentives to attract investment in tourism development.
 |
|
Son La boasts its potential for community-based tourism |
The efforts will focus on improving its investment climate, administrative procedures and infrastructure facilities and fostering promotion activities.
“The approved master plan for the development of the Moc Chau National Tourism Zone is a crucial legal framework for the province to mobilise long-term and comprehensive investment” Deputy Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Pham Van Thuy said, highlighting strong potential for tourism, particularly resorts and ecotourism.
The locality should build on its advantages and develop specific plans to boost the sector, he added.
Dinh Hong Phuc, Deputy Director of the Pha Luong tourist agency, said the company will work closely with local residents to improve facilities and service quality, further strengthen homestay tourism and draw tourists to the locality.
The Moc Chau National Tourism Zone, covering more than 206,000 hectares in Moc Chau and Van Ho districts, features diversified and unique products, natural landscapes and ethnic cultural identities, such as the Ban Flower Festival, Nao Song Festival, New Crop Festival, and Miss Cow festival.
The zone is expected to welcome 1.2 million visitors by 2020 and 3 million by 2030, generating revenues of 1.5 trillion VND (71.4 million USD) and 6 trillion VND (285.7 million USD) respectively.
It targets visitors from the Red River Delta and the northern midland and mountainous regions as well as those from foreign markets such as Western Europe, Northern America, Northeast Asia and Southeast Asia.
The zone includes three key tourism centres, the Moc Chau relaxation centre, the Moc Chau eco-tourism centre and the Moc Chau recreational centre.
Community-based tourism villages will be formed in Dong Sang, Muong Sang, and Tan Lap communes in Moc Chau district and Chieng Khoa commune in Van Ho district.
According to the local Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Moc Chau has seen continuous increases in the number of tourists, from 288,000 arrivals in 2010 to 600,000 in 2013 and 850,000 in 2014, mainly during holidays in Spring when the plum and peach flowers blossom, and during the Mong New Year festival in September.