Central region tries to draw more tourists

      Several central provinces are implementing measures to attract domestic and foreign visitors at a time when the tourism industry is taking a hit from the global economic downturn.
The Da Nang People's Committee said it is developing infrastructure for two new eco-tours on Son Tra Peninsula. It has also permitted some places of entertainment to remain open after midnight.
Service providers in the city are offering discounts to attract visitors.
Several festivals, including Quan The Am, an international fireworks competition, and "Soi dong bien mua he" (Vibrant summer sea) are scheduled to be held this year.
The city plans to co-operate with neighboring areas to develop a tour linking Hue, Da Nang, and Quang Nam Province, themed "Three localities, one destination."
Its tourism sector will expand promotional activities in key markets like Russia, Japan, Thailand, and South Korea to offset the declining tourist numbers.
Thua Thien-Hue Province is also making efforts to prevent the decline in arrivals.
Truong Van Bay, deputy chairman of the Hoi An People's Committee, said the city would continue to reduce prices at tourist spots and souvenir shops as well as at restaurants.
It plans to organise traditional rituals like Nam Giao and Xa Tac to attract visitors.
Shrinking numbers
Lying on the East-West Corridor, a highway linking several Southeast Asian countries, and with more than 60 kilometres of coastline and beautiful sandy beaches. Da Nang has been a magnet for luxury-resort investors.
But the number of visitors to the city is dwindling.
Ngo Quang Vinh, director of its Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the numbers of foreign and domestic visitors are likely to respectively shrink by 30 per cent and by 10-20 per cent this year.
Alarmingly, many international travellers have canceled room bookings, he added.
The two neighboring provinces of Quang Nam and Thua Thien-Hue are also likely to see a reduction of nearly 30 per cent in the number of tourist arrivals in the early part of the year.
Phan Tien Dung, director of the Thua Thien-Hue Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said: "The province hopes to receive 2 million visitors this year, but it seems hard to achieve."