Nghe An tourism and the 30-year journey of development

Promote tourism development

After the Government issued Decision No. 09/CP dated June 22, 1993, identifying tourism as a strategic economic sector, innovating and developing tourism in the new situation, Nghe An tourism situation began to have some improvements. On July 5, 1994, Nghe An Department of Tourism was established with the function of assisting the Provincial People's Committee in implementing State management of tourism activities in the province.

Having just been established, the Department of Tourism has urgently carried out a number of tasks from its superiors, especially the decisions of the Government, the General Department of Tourism and the Provincial People's Committee on regulations for managing tourism business activities in Nghe An.

During the period 1994 - 2000, to implement the objectives set out in the master plan for Nghe An tourism in the period 1996 - 2010 associated with the national action program on tourism and tourism events in 2000, the Department of Tourism developed the Project "Steps to develop Nghe An tourism in 1999 - 2000 and the following years", approved by the Provincial People's Committee.

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

In particular, the Project on Nghe An Tourism Development for the period 2002 - 2010 approved by the Provincial Party Committee Standing Committee and the Resolution on tourism development planning have closely followed the socio-economic orientation of the province and are highly feasible. Documents and directives on tourism management have contributed to putting tourism activities in order and complying with the law. Thereby, the Department has contributed to promoting Nghe An tourism to develop rapidly and steadily. By 2005, the number of visitors increased by 20.4%/year, tourism revenue increased by 26.5%/year, higher than 12.4% before 2000.

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

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

During the period 2008 - 2016, the tourism industry continued to have many advisory activities; investment in infrastructure, organization and training of human resources; tourism promotion activities and tourism business activities.

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

Intensive investment in tourism and exploitation of tourism potential in the ecological field are considered bright spots in this period.

On December 16, 2016, the Provincial People's Council issued Resolution No. 36/NQ-HDND to establish the Department of Tourism of Nghe An province and change the name of 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 put into operation from January 1, 2017.

The functions and tasks of the Department of Tourism are prescribed: It is a specialized agency under the Provincial People's Committee, performing the function of advising and assisting the Provincial People's Committee in State management of tourism according to the provisions of law; public services in the management field and performing a number of powers as assigned or authorized by the Provincial People's Committee.

New vitality

In just a few years (from 2017 to 2019), Nghe An tourism industry has been given a new vitality. Infrastructure and product quality have been improved, and a number of high-end resorts and entertainment areas have been established. Tourism promotion and cooperation have changed positively…

Nghe An tourism has initially overcome shortcomings in effectively exploiting tourism resources and travel activities, gradually improving competitiveness and professionalism in promotional activities to reach out to the international market.

In addition, the tourism industry has been linked to the task of developing culture, protecting the environment, maintaining political security, protecting border and island sovereignty. During this period, Nghe An tourism has expanded and combined types of tourism (ecological, historical, cultural, spiritual, resort, entertainment) to create diversity in tourism activities, building a number of unique and attractive products.

Entering the period from 2020 to present, along with the whole country, Nghe An tourism industry has gradually overcome difficulties and achieved encouraging results.

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

Thanks to that, in 2022, the whole province is estimated to welcome and serve 6,730,000 tourists, of which, staying guests will reach 4,412,000, international visitors will reach 28,600; total revenue from tourists will reach 12,343 billion VND, Nghe An is among the top in the country in terms of tourism recovery and development results.

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 on approving the Nghe An Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2035; Action Plan to implement 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 11th Politburo on the direction and tasks for the development of Nghe An province to 2020"; draft Action Program to implement Resolution No. 29-NQ/TW dated November 17, 2022 of the Party Central Committee on continuing to promote industrialization and modernization of the country to 2030, with a vision to 2045...

With these achievements, Nghe An Department of Tourism was honored to be awarded the Third Class Labor Medal by the Party and State; for many consecutive years, the industry was awarded the Emulation Flag by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, many collectives and individuals were recognized as Provincial Emulation Fighters, and were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Ministry and the province. Nghe An Tourism was assessed by the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism as one of the 10 localities with the number of visitors and tourism revenue increasing over the years.

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In the coming time, 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. 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 tourist centers of the North Central region.

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