Tourism boats on Ha Long Bay in Quang Ninh (Photo: VNA)




Hanoi (VNA) – The
Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on September 22 announced the theme and
activities of the National Tourism Year 2018, which will be hosted by the
north-eastern province of Quang Ninh.



Accordingly, a number of main
activities will be held in Quang Ninh, including the opening and closing
ceremonies of the National Year, a cuisine festival, a paragliding competition,
a photo contest, and a ceremony to announce and present certificate recognising
Cua Ong temple as a special national relic site, among others.



Besides the ministry and
Quang Ninh, 14 other provinces and cities will join hands to organise cultural,
sports and tourism events in response to the National Tourism Year 2018.



The National Tourism Year
2018 is expected to draw more foreign tourists to Vietnam and bolster growth of
domestic tourism, fulfilling the target of Vietnam’s tourism sector in 2018 and
upcoming years.



The event is also hoped to
raise public awareness about tourism development in association with protection
of marine resources and promote cultural values and tourism products of Quang
Ninh province.



Under the Overall Plan for Tourism Development in Quang Ninh to 2020 and
Vision to 2030, Quang Ninh strives to become an international tourism centre
and a leading tourism destination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and
diverse, high quality and competitive tourism products.



By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, including
seven million foreigners, and rake in 30-40 trillion VND (1.3-1.7 billion USD)
in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15 percent to the
gross regional domestic product (GRDP).



In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomes 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a
year-on-year increase of seven percent, and earned over 13 trillion VND (571
million USD) in revenue, up 23 percent, according to the Quang Ninh Department
of Tourism.



Particularly, the world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay welcomed
6.3 million tourists and grossed 7.7 trillion VND (over 338 million USD) in
revenue, representing respective increases of 14 percent and 65 percent from
the previous year. About 2.7 million of the visitors were foreigners, a
year-on-year growth of 16 percent.



Being favoured by nature with a range of stunning landscapes, clear
turquoise sea and spectacular limestone pillars together with numerous tourism
investment projects, Quang Ninh boasts huge potential to develop sustainable
green tourism.



Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and over 2,000
islets which account for two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam. The
spectacular stretch of coast connects the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site
of Ha Long Bay with majestic natural scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don and Co
To islands and Tra Co beach with Cat Ba National Park in the northern port city
of Hai Phong.



Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba island and Do Son beach (Hai Phong city) are
prioritised to develop into national tourism sites.



Along with the renowned Ha Long Bay, Quan Lan, Minh Chau, Ngoc Vung, Dai
beaches in Van Don island district and Tra Co and Vinh Thuc in Mong Cai city
have grown in stature among domestic and international tourists thanks to their
breathtaking sea and coral reef.-VNA