Nghe An tourism and its 30-year journey towards development.

Promoting tourism development

Following the Government's Decision No. 09/CP dated June 22, 1993, which identified tourism as a strategic economic sector and mandated innovation and development in the new context, Nghe An's tourism sector began to show some positive signs. On July 5, 1994, the Nghe An Department of Tourism was established with the function of assisting the Provincial People's Committee in managing state affairs related to tourism activities in the province.

Immediately after its establishment, the Department of Tourism promptly carried out several tasks assigned by higher authorities, particularly decisions from the Government, the General Department of Tourism, and the Provincial People's Committee regarding regulations for managing tourism business activities in Nghe An province.

During the period 1994-2000, in order to achieve the goals set out in the Nghe An tourism master plan for the period 1996-2010, in conjunction with the national action program on tourism and tourism events in 2000, the Department of Tourism developed the project "Steps for the development of tourism in Nghe An 1999-2000 and subsequent years," which was approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

By 2005, the Director of the Department of Tourism had issued 12 regulations and rules within his authority, advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue 3 directives and 4 decisions, not to mention numerous projects in the field of tourism.

Notably, the Nghe An Tourism Development Project for the period 2002-2010, approved by the Provincial Party Standing Committee, and the Resolution on tourism development planning closely followed the province's socio-economic orientation and were highly feasible. Documents and directives on tourism management contributed to bringing tourism activities into order and ensuring compliance with the law. Through these efforts, the department contributed to promoting the rapid and sustainable development of Nghe An tourism. By 2005, the number of tourists increased by 20.4% per year, and tourism revenue increased by 26.5% per year, higher than the 12.4% increase before 2000.

During this period, with the establishment of the Nghe An Department of Tourism, the province's tourism industry officially entered a phase of integration and development. The Department of Tourism has done a good job advising the provincial leadership on formulating appropriate policies in the new situation. With the establishment of the Tourism Promotion Center and the Tourism Association, tourism promotion and advertising have developed strongly.

Following the Government's directive, on April 24, 2008, the Provincial People's Committee issued a decision to merge the Department of Culture and Information, the Department of Tourism, and the Department of Physical Education and Sports into the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Accordingly, Nghe An's tourism industry is placed under the management of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

During the period 2008-2016, the tourism sector continued to engage in various activities, including advisory work; investment in infrastructure; organization and training of human resources; tourism promotion and marketing; and tourism business activities.

In particular, the Department of Tourism continues to advise the Provincial Party Committee and the Provincial People's Committee on strategies and specific measures to develop the province's tourism industry. Thanks to the boosted tourism activities, revenue from tourism businesses (travel agencies, accommodation, etc.) has seen significant growth.

Intensive investment in the tourism industry and the exploitation of tourism potential in the ecological sector are considered highlights during this period.

On December 16, 2016, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 36/NQ-HĐND establishing the Nghe An Provincial Department of Tourism and renaming the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to the Department of Culture and Sports. This means that the Department of Tourism was re-established and officially began operations on January 1, 2017.

The functions and duties of the Department of Tourism are stipulated as follows: As a specialized agency under the Provincial People's Committee, it performs the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in the state management of tourism in accordance with the law; providing public services in the field of management and exercising certain powers as assigned or delegated by the Provincial People's Committee.

A new source of vitality

In just a few years (from 2017 to 2019), Nghe An's tourism industry has been revitalized. Infrastructure and product quality have improved, and several high-end resorts and entertainment complexes have emerged. Tourism promotion and cooperation have also seen positive changes…

Nghe An's tourism sector has begun to overcome shortcomings in effectively exploiting its tourism resources and travel operations, gradually improving its competitiveness and professionalism in promotional activities to reach international markets.

Furthermore, the tourism industry has been closely linked to the tasks of cultural development, environmental protection, maintaining political security, and safeguarding border and maritime sovereignty. During this period, Nghe An's tourism has expanded and combined various types of tourism (ecological, historical, cultural, spiritual, resort, and entertainment) to create diversity in tourism activities and develop a number of unique and attractive products.

From 2020 to the present, along with the rest of the country, Nghe An's tourism industry has gradually overcome difficulties and achieved encouraging results.

In early 2022, when the Covid-19 pandemic was brought under control, the Department of Tourism promptly advised the Provincial People's Committee on a plan to reopen tourism activities and welcome international tourists under the new normal conditions, while also developing scenarios and key solutions to implement the tourism development plan for 2022.

As a result, in 2022, the province is estimated to have welcomed and served 6,730,000 tourists, including 4,412,000 overnight visitors and 28,600 international visitors; total revenue from tourism reached 12,343 billion VND, placing Nghe An among the top provinces nationwide in terms of tourism recovery and development.

During this period, the Department of Tourism also advised the Provincial People's Committee to issue Decision No. 1439/QD.UBND dated May 23, 2023, approving the Nghe An Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2035; and the Action Plan for implementing the Nghe An Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2035.

At the same time, actively coordinate and contribute opinions to the reports "Summary of the implementation of Resolution 26-NQ/TW dated July 30, 2013 of the Politburo of the 11th Party Congress on the direction and tasks for the development of Nghe An province until 2020"; the draft Action Program to implement Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 17, 2022 of the Central Committee of the Party on continuing to promote industrialization and modernization of the country until 2030, with a vision to 2045…

With these achievements, the Nghe An Department of Tourism was honored to receive the Third-Class Labor Medal from the Party and the State; for many consecutive years, the industry has been awarded the Emulation Flag by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and many collectives and individuals have been recognized as provincial-level Emulation Soldiers and awarded Certificates of Merit from the Ministry and the province. Nghe An tourism is assessed by the Vietnam National Tourism Administration as one of the top 10 localities with the highest increase in tourist numbers and tourism revenue over the years.

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In the coming period, the Department of Tourism will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee on mechanisms and policies for tourism development; effectively implement the Nghe An Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2035. It will also continue to strengthen propaganda and promotion to attract investment resources for tourism, gradually making Nghe An tourism an important economic sector of the province and one of the tourism centers of the North Central region.

Mr. Nguyen Manh Cuong - Director of Nghe An Department of Tourism