Central region’s tourism to focus on heritages

Central Vietnam has many favorable conditions to develop the tourism industry, especially the largest number of natural and cultural heritages in Vietnam, said Hoang Thi Diep, vice head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism.
The region has 81 ranked historic and cultural relics as well as the most beautiful beaches in the country. Traditional and modern festivals also play an important role in luring tourists to the central provinces.
Tourism is an economic industry with clear resource orientation. Therefore, the heritages are special resources for the region to create attractive products with high competitiveness in the country and worldwide, Diep explained.
However, most of the central provinces have yet to tap the potentials and drive market demand. Although the yearly arrival growth rate is higher than other parts of the country, the results are still modest, Diep said in a recent seminar on Central Vietnam’s tourism development in Hoi An City.
Amateur tourism employees and poor infrastructure, marketing and supporting services are the shortcomings of the local tourism industry. The region also has to face regular natural disasters and pollution.
Shizuo Iwata, head of Japan International Cooperation Agency’s research team, suggested developing the central region as an attractive destination for local and international visitors due to the potential of the natural and cultural heritages, traditional trade villages, the eco system and the resorts. Local authorities should improve air, road and sea transport to link the region with other famous destinations nationwide, he said.
Ho Tan Cuong, deputy director of Quang Nam province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, agreed that the variety of tourism resources was one of the strengths of the central region. “Quang Nam province is a typical example. With two cultural heritages, Hoi An and My Son, a world biosphere reserve, Cham Islet, the province has all the tourism resources the central region has,” he said.
The province was advised to focus on cultural tourism and eco tourism. The province should also balance cultural and entertainment factors in each product.
In Danang city, local government plans to develop the city into a commercial-tourism-service center. The city will highlight cultural, historic and eco tourism, and meeting, incentive, conference, exhibition (MICE) tourism.