Nghe An commits to creating strong changes to promote tourism development

(Baonghean) - Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong - Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee gave an interview to Nghe An Newspaper on the occasion of the Scientific Conference on tourism linkage in the North - South Central region.

PV:Nghe An is a province with rich tourism potential, could you please tell us about the province's strengths in this field?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong:Nghe An is a province in the North Central region, with the largest area in the country (16,490 km2), with diverse natural terrain including forests, mountains, plains, sea and islands, with many majestic and poetic natural landscapes, which are favorable conditions for socio-economic development in general and tourism in particular.

Nghe An's natural tourism resources are quite diverse, in which the primeval forest system in the western region of the province stands out, forming the largest World Biosphere Reserve in Southeast Asia, recognized by UNESCO as a World Biosphere Reserve. In addition, Nghe An also has a relatively rich and unique cave system, in which some caves have discovered archaeological relics of the life of ancient Vietnamese people hundreds of thousands of years ago such as: Tham Om cave, Co Ngon cave (Quy Chau), Poong cave (Quy Hop),... Nghe An has a coastline of over 82 km, flat, fine white sand, clear water, moderate salinity, fresh environment, many hours of sunshine, suitable for the development of resort tourism, sea bathing, medical treatment, with many beautiful beaches such as Cua Lo, Bai Lu, Quynh Phuong, Quynh Lap, Dien Thanh...

Cua Lo - a coastal tourist city in Nghe An - Photo: Xuan Nhuong

Nghe An is also a land of outstanding people, with a rich history, culture and revolutionary tradition. The system of historical and cultural relics is numerous and diverse in genre, with nearly 1,400 recognized relics, of which 136 are ranked at the national level, notably the special national relic of the President Ho Chi Minh Memorial Site in Kim Lien, Nam Dan - the hometown of President Ho Chi Minh - National liberation hero, world cultural celebrity.

In addition, there are many other relics to develop spiritual tourism; there is a rich and unique folk culture, with folk music, customs, practices, festivals, culinary culture... In particular, Nghe Tinh Vi and Giam folk songs have been recognized by UNESCO as a representative intangible cultural heritage of humanity. That is an extremely valuable resource, a unique identity of Nghe An, capable of creating tourism products of Nghe An.

Cruise on Giang River - Photo: Hoang Hao

With its potential and advantages in diverse natural and humanistic tourism resources, Nghe An province is becoming a bridge connecting tourist regions in the country such as: Hanoi, Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Ninh Binh, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Hue, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Lam Dong, Ho Chi Minh City... Nghe An is the starting point of the legendary Ho Chi Minh trail and also the starting point of the East-West corridor tourism route (according to National Highway No. 8), programs connecting heritages such as "Journey through the Ancient Capitals", exploring the cave system in the Central region (Thien Duong Cave, Son Doong Cave - the world's largest cave in Quang Binh)... At the same time, Nghe An is also a tourist transit point in the country with foreign tourism, first of all with the countries: Laos, Thailand.

PV: So, what has Nghe An done to promote those potentials and strengths, comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong:With the above inherent strengths, Nghe An has been promoting investment in developing facilities, infrastructure and new tourism products. Many routes have been upgraded and a number of infrastructure projects have been inaugurated and put into use, contributing to shortening the travel time of tours. Vinh Airport has been upgraded to an international airport and is currently operating flights to Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Buon Ma Thuot, Da Nang, Lien Khuong - Lam Dong... (the Vinh - Bankok route is expected to open in April 2016). The system of accommodation facilities, food establishments, restaurants, and shopping services has also developed strongly, capable of providing quality products and services to tourists when coming to Nghe An.

A group of travel companies surveyed the tourist site of Ve Vung Lake in Yen Thanh - Photo: Van Truong

Nghe An has built coastal resorts with beautiful beaches and high-class resorts in: Cua Lo (one of 12 coastal tourist cities in Vietnam), Bai Lu - Nghi Loc, Dien Chau, Quynh Luu....; Eco-tourism with locations in primeval forests and conservation areas: Pu Mat National Park and Western Nghe An World Biosphere Reserve; Adventure tourism with mountain climbing and river crossing routes: Pha Lai - Khe Khang tourist route, cruise on Giang River, Khe Kem Waterfall - animal and plant gene museum...; Community tourism, rural tourism, linking to open tourism programs to visit neighboring countries Laos and Thailand by road...

However, in reality, due to many objective and subjective reasons, Nghe An has not yet fully exploited its available potential advantages.

PV:In order for Nghe An tourism to gradually affirm its brand and become an important bridge to connect and develop tourism in the North and South Central provinces, what instructions and solutions will the provincial leaders have in the coming time, comrade?

Comrade Nguyen Xuan Duong:To promote the strong development of the "smokeless industry" in Nghe An, in the period of 2016 - 2020, Nghe An province identified and focused on implementing the following tourism development goals:

1.Continue to increase resources for infrastructure development and technical facilities; improve the quality of tourism products and services and build a civilized, safe and friendly tourism environment; proactively integrate and connect Nghe An tourism with tourism in the North - South Central region, with the whole country and internationally; ensure rapid and sustainable development.

2.Tourism development is closely linked with the task of cultural development, especially the preservation, maintenance and promotion of national cultural identity, traditional education, environmental protection, maintaining political security and social order and safety, and protecting border and island sovereignty.

Nghia Dan sunflower field attracts the attention of many tourists - Photo: Thai Truong

3.Develop tourism in a professional and diverse direction, focusing on sea and island tourism combined with cultural, historical, spiritual and ecological tourism, so that tourism truly becomes an important economic sector of the province. Focus on forming tours that connect and effectively promote tourist attractions, unique tourism products, attractive and high-quality tourist facilities, and are attractive destinations for domestic and international tourists.

4.Complete the system of parks and services along the beach. Attract investment in cultural, sports, entertainment services, shopping facilities associated with the development of eco-tourism, craft villages, and spiritual cultural tourism. Form tours that combine sea tourism, cultural, historical, spiritual tourism, eco-tourism, and community-based tourism. Strengthen links to build tourism products and brands between key tourist areas of Vinh - Cua Lo - Nam Dan - Con Cuong - Yen Thanh - Quy Chau. Expand links with tourist destinations in Thanh Hoa, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh, Hue, and other famous regions in the country.

5. Sustainable development of tourism human resources through new training, retraining and fostering, experience and high professionalism.

Nghe An's tourism infrastructure is increasingly being invested in and upgraded. In the photo: Golf course in Cua Lo. Photo: Dao Tuan

Besides, organizing the Scientific Workshop on Linking Tourism Development in the North - South Central Region is an opportunity for us, policy makers and tourism professionals, to find linking solutions to further promote tourism development.

At this workshop, we hope that delegates will focus on linkage solutions to develop a system of typical products with regional brands, complementary products, and specialized products to avoid duplication; linkage to continuously improve quality, diversify and overcome seasonality based on the orientations identified in the strategy and planning for Vietnam tourism development and the planning for tourism development in the North Central region and the South Central region until 2020, with a vision to 2030.

Nghe An province commits to being ready to participate in signed cooperation activities, at the same time creating all favorable conditions to support provinces and businesses in cooperation activities, as well as directing all levels, sectors and people to join together to create strong changes in tourism activities.

PV: Thank you, comrade!

Duc Chuyen(Perform)