In 2016, international tourists to Nghe An increased by 12%

(Baonghean.vn) - On the morning of December 21, the Steering Committee for Tourism Development of Nghe An province held a meeting to evaluate the results of the implementation of tasks in 2016, discuss tasks, solutions and work programs for 2017.

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Standing Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development of Nghe An province chaired the meeting.

In November 2016, Nghe An province organized tourism promotion in Bangkok and Udon Thani, Kingdom of Thailand.

Since the beginning of the second quarter of 2016, the number of tourists to Nghe An has decreased sharply due to the impact of the marine environmental incident in the central provinces. In this situation, Nghe An province has made many efforts to promote propaganda inside and outside the province, so by July 2016, the number of tourists to coastal tourist areas has gradually recovered.

From the decline in tourists in coastal tourist areas, Nghe An has shifted to attracting tourists to historical and cultural tourist sites and eco-tourism in the West. Tourists to Truong Bon Historical Site, Pu Mat National Park, Muong Thanh Safari Dien Lam Eco-tourism Area... have increased dramatically from 50-100%. At many times, there has been an overload phenomenon.

In 2016, Muong Thanh Safari Dien Lam Eco-tourism Area came into operation.

In 2016, the direction and investment in developing new tourism products had positive changes: Muong Thanh Safari Dien Lam Eco-tourism Area Phase I came into operation; Homestay models and selling brocade weaving products, experiencing orange farms, connecting tourism to Khe Kem Waterfall, Giang River (Con Cuong) were initially formed; Vinpearl Cua Hoi hotel complex, entertainment area and resort villa project started construction; Cau Cau Dam Eco-tourism Area was planned; the Western Spring Festival Night and Sunflower Festival 2016 are about to be held...

Nghe An actively promotes new destination Tea Island, Cau Cau Dam, Thanh Chuong district.

In particular, Nghe An has focused on tourism promotion, advertising and cooperation activities, by organizing tourism promotion conferences in Thailand, participating in tourism fairs in Thailand, Vietnam Cultural Week in Japan, international tourism fairs in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City...

Thai tourists visit sunflower fields in Nghia Dan district.

As a result, in 2016, the total number of visitors staying in the province was estimated at 3.22 million, equal to 87% compared to 2015 and reaching 84% of the yearly plan; including 72,860 international visitors, an increase of 12% compared to 2015.

Total tourism service revenue of the whole province is estimated at 2,233 billion VND, equal to 85% compared to the same period in 2015, reaching 77% of the 2016 plan; Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at about 5,000 billion VND, equal to 96% compared to 2015.

Japanese tourists learn about the brocade weaving process in Con Cuong district.

Despite many efforts, Nghe An tourism still has many shortcomings and limitations: The number of visitors and revenue targets have not met the plan; The speed of tourism product and service development is still slow; The efficiency of tourism service business has just changed, the connectivity is low; Promotion activities have not been strongly innovated; The quality of tourism human resource training has not met the requirements.

In 2017, Nghe An tourism industry aims to welcome and serve 5 million tourists, including 3.6 million overnight guests; tourism service revenue increases by 14-16% compared to 2016.

At the meeting, members of the Steering Committee and representatives of relevant departments and agencies contributed ideas to discuss the tasks and solutions of the 2017 work program. Many ideas focused on the content of investment planning, infrastructure development, diversification of tourism products; Strengthening tourism security activities; Improving immigration and customs clearance activities, opening Thanh Thuy Border Gate soon; Focusing on promoting tourism in potential markets such as China...

Representatives of Nghe An Tourism Association proposed measures to support Cua Lo tourism and mechanisms to support community tourism and craft villages producing tourism products.

Concluding the meeting, comrade Le Minh Thong stated: In 2016, Nghe An tourism activities faced many difficulties, but amidst those difficulties, all levels, sectors, localities and tourism companies made many efforts to promote development and attract visitors. Nghe An has a lot of potential for tourism development, in 2017, we need to try harder to promote and advertise the image of tourism in our province.

Comrade Le Minh Thong - Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Head of the Steering Committee requested members to improve the quality of activities and be determined to make tourism a spearhead economic sector of the province.

Determined to develop tourism into a spearhead economic sector, in 2017, Nghe An focused on investing in the construction of key historical and cultural relics; Paying attention to building civilized tourism awareness; Strengthening the management of security, order and food safety; Managing travel companies well; Actively bringing international and central government events to Nghe An.

Comrade Le Minh Thong requested the tourism agency to quickly consult to reorganize the steering committee, add members who are leaders of press and media agencies and the health department; draft operating regulations to enhance leadership capacity.

Thanh Son