Hoa Binh seeks to boost tourism by 2020

The northern province of Hoa Binh is hoping to receive more than 3.32 million visitors by 2020, generating a revenue of nearly 2.5 trillion VND (118.5 million USD), which they intend to double by 2030, ultimately bringing 11 trillion VND (520.3 million USD) into the province.
The figures were released in the recently-launched tourism development plan for the province through 2020, including a vision for 2030.
Under the plan, the tourism sector, which is expected to create nearly 47,000 jobs for local workers, will need an investment of more than 23 trillion VND (1.1 billion USD) by 2030, of which 85 percent is expected to come from foreign investors.
In order to achieve these targets, the sector aims to improve infrastructure facilities, and expand high-quality services to enhance its competitiveness.
Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism Bui Ngoc Lam said the province has made targeted investments to develop infrastructure facilities surrounding the Hoa Binh reservoir, one of the national key tourist sites.
The promotion project has involved a number of businesses, including Hoa Binh Tourist JSC, which has invested more than 100 billion VND (5.1 million USD) in building high-end hotels and yachts to attract more international tourists.
With the advantage of its proximity of Hanoi, Hoa Binh has recently attracted several investment projects, the most remarkable of which were a complex of recreational park, ecotourism and hot spring resort in Kim Boi district and the Dau Rong (Dragon Head) cave system in Cao Phong district.
Additionally, more attractions have been developed in Mai Chau district, a popular destination for foreign visitors, including the Dua (Coconut) island in Da river in Chieng Chau commune, Vit co xanh (Mallard) ecotourism site, a museum on Muong ethnic minority culture in Luong Son district, and the Hoa Binh Hydro power plant, among others.
In 2014, the province welcomed more than two million visitors, including 180,000 international tourists, generating more than 700 billion VND (33.3 million USD).