Open air, connectivity among keys to tourism development in central region

TIN LIÊN QUAN
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As reported, a conference for tourism development in central and highlands region took place in Thua Thien-Hue province on Saturday with the participation of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and more than 500 delegates, including representatives from businesses, foreign embassies and international organizations.

The event aims to seek policies recommendations to further effectively exploit tourism strengths ranging from natural landscapes to historical sites.

The region is well-known for beautiful bays and beaches, 9 national parks and many national wildlife serves, and 14 world’s cultural heritages and increasingly equipped with increasingly modern infrastructure with 12 operational airports including five international ones and 10 seaports.

Statistics show that 19 central and highlands provinces welcomed 56 million turns of visitors, including more than 9.5 million foreign arrivals last year.

Sunny beaches in the central coastal provinces are favorite destinations for both local and foreign tourists. (Photo: VGP)

The aforesaid outcomes partly came as a result of the Government’s open visa exemption policy. Viet Nam has granted visa exemption to tourists from 24 countries and territories and conducted online visa application for those from 47 nations around the world. Prime Minister Phuc has also signed a resolution to apply e-visa for 34 more countries.

Speaking at the conference, Phuc emphasized the region is endowed with rich tourism potential but it has not been effectively tapped or even wasted.

Many beautiful beaches have been spoilt due to people’s behaviors, plastic and hard waste while quality of human resource remains questionable, said the Government chief.

He affirmed the Government will closely work with local authorities to maintain a peaceful environment, social order and safety for tourists to Viet Nam.

Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Viet Nam Economics Institute the region’s strategies for tourist attraction and infrastructure development remain scattered, thus it lacks an overall vision for the whole region.

Recent tourism reports indicate that Viet Nam has mainly focused on quantity of tourists but the quality is not high, resulting in modest revenues and putting pressure on natural resources and infrastructure, he added.

Meanwhile, business leaders to the conference said air connectivity is one of the major driving forces for tourism development in the central and highlands region.

Don Lam from VinaCapital said airport is the most important factor for businesses to make investment decisions. This viewpoint is echoed by Nguyen Quoc Ky – General Director of Viettravel, who cited Da Nang City as a typical example.

At present, VietJet Air is the pioneering Vietnamese carrier to conduct flights to the central and highlands region such as to Hue, Da Nang, Cam Ranh, Dong Hoi, Phu Cat, Chu Lai, Tuy Hoa, Lien Khuong, Pleiku, Buon Me Thuot, Vinh and Thanh Hoa, according to VietJet Air CEO Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao.

She said the carrier will open more flights to the above 12 airports in a bid to contribute to socio-economic and tourism tourism development in the region.

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