The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducts surprise inspections of festivals in localities.
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| A scene of fighting at the Giong Festival. |
Given the increasing violence at many festivals and the lax organization of festivals in many localities, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it will regularly send inspection teams to localities.
According to the plan, inspection teams will first work at the festival venue, proactively examining all matters and gathering evidence of violations, before proceeding to work with local authorities to promptly rectify any violations. This ensures objectivity in the inspection and management of festivals, preventing local authorities from merely going through the motions.
* On February 26th, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh led a delegation from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on a surprise inspection of festival organization in Ninh Binh province. The delegation inspected the organization, visitor reception, environmental sanitation, security, and traffic safety at the King Dinh-King Le Temple complex, the Bai Dinh Pagoda spiritual and cultural tourism area, and the Trang An tourist complex.
Through on-site inspections, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh initially acknowledged the efforts of the Management Board of the historical sites in strengthening management with the goal of ensuring the preservation of the sites' original state in accordance with the Law on Cultural Heritage. Regarding festival organization, the Bai Dinh Pagoda festival was meticulously prepared, and no significant problems have arisen so far. However, there are still instances of offerings being placed in inappropriate locations, and environmental sanitation is still lacking in some areas.
To ensure good preparation for the 2015 festival season, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh noted that Ninh Binh province needs to be more proactive, strengthen inspection and supervision, and promptly handle any potential situations. Minister Hoang Tuan Anh requested that the leaders of Ninh Binh province, as well as other localities, strictly implement the Prime Minister's directive on festival management: "Leaders of ministries, agencies, and localities should not attend festivals unless assigned by competent authorities. Officials and civil servants should not attend festivals during working hours, and should not use official vehicles to attend festivals, except in cases of performing assigned duties." He also directed officials and Party members to comply with regulations on festival management and organization; and to strictly punish officials and Party members who violate these regulations.
* To enhance the management and organization of festivals in 2015, Hanoi City has requested the Chairmen of the People's Committees of districts, towns, and communes to directly supervise the management and organization of festivals in their areas, ensuring a reduction in the frequency of festivals and events, especially large-scale ones. They are also responsible for the plans, programs, content, scale, frequency, and timing of these events, ensuring they are organized economically and efficiently, avoiding ostentation and waste; and are in line with the cultural traditions of the nation and the customs and practices of each locality.
The city also requested relevant departments, agencies, and localities to minimize the use of state budget funds for organizing festivals and events, to refrain from live broadcasting on national or city television channels without prior approval from competent authorities, and to avoid abusing live television broadcasts to solicit sponsorships for the organization of festivals and events. The city also mandated the management of offerings and strictly prohibited the exchange of small denominations for profit, especially within the premises of historical sites and festivals.
Heads of departments, agencies, and the People's Committees of districts, towns, and cities are responsible for strictly implementing the regulations of the Party, the State, and the city on festival management and organization. Officials and employees must set a good example by strictly adhering to these regulations, refraining from using working time or official vehicles to attend festivals, except when assigned to do so.
The Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the heads of departments, agencies, and organizations of the city, and the Chairpersons of the People's Committees of districts, counties, and towns shall be held personally and collectively responsible before the City People's Committee within their respective areas of management and direction if violations occur in the management and organization of festivals in 2015.
According to Dangcongsan
