Thua Thien- Hue province is calling for investments into the tourism industry – in particular to take advantage of the province’s famous lagoons and landscapes while also boosting province’s attractiveness as a destination for MICE (Meetings-Incentives-Conventions-Events).
Director of Thua Thien Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Phan Tien Dung said the province hopes to woo investment to turn itself into a popular tourism destination.
Dung highlighted that the province is home to well-known Tam Giang lagoon, which covers 22,000 hectares and spreads over 70 kilometres through Huong Tra, Quang Dien, Phong Dien, Phu Vang and Phu Loc districts.
The area features an unconventional brackish-water fauna and flora system and unspoiled picturesque landscapes, considered very favourable for eco tourism promotion.
Besides, Thua Thien- Hue province is home to seven hot mineral streams, which are ideal locations for refreshment or relaxation. The province also has great potential in terms of MICE tourism.
“As part of the East-West economic corridor, Hue city has emerged as a lucrative venue for MICE visitors,” said Dung.
It is hoped that tourism will spearhead the economy and so the industry is now a top investment priority for the next five years, according to Thua Thien Hue’s deputy chairman Ngo Hoa.
Hoa also noted that this year the province would tailor a series of workshops and meetings to attract investment, train employees from state agencies and businesses on investment promotion skills in the implementation of big tourism projects.
“National Tourism Year 2012 to be held in Hue as well as Festival Hue 2012 will be a golden opportunity to woo visitors as well as investors to Thua Thien Hue,” Hoa said.
To prepare for these major events, a set of cultural and tourism activities will be taking place in the province in 2011. In particular the province’s tourism industry will launch competitive tour packages, including, Discovering Hue’s Legacy and Journey through Time, to lure in visitors.
The province will also host 13 major national cultural, sports and tourism events in 2011 like the Vietnam-Japan Food Festival, a cooperative forum for central region’s tourism businesses and the international tourism festival, Trans-Asia Road Travel.
Thua Thien Hue is currently home to 22 investment projects worth around VND50 trillion ($2.5 billion) in the tourism sector. Most significant is the $1 billion modern mixed-use complex belonging to the Singapore-based Banyan Tree Group, which involves the construction of a golf course, a convention centre, hotels with 2,000 rooms and associated facilities. At least 500 rooms will be made available to service visitors during Festival Hue 2012.