In the frame of International Grapes and Wine Festival 1st time in Ninh Thuan province, on 18/7/2014, the Central coastal region Coordination Board in cooperation with Ninh Thuan Provincial People’s Committee held Conference on tourism development in the Central coastal region in connection with the Highlands at Sai Gon-Ninh Chu hotel, Ninh Hai district, Ninh Thuan province.
The conference was attended by leaders of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Tourism Association, Economy Institution, Central Region Development Fund, leaders of provinces/cities of the central coastal region and Highlands, scientists, researchers and representatives of organizations, domestic and oversea associations.
At the conference, many presentations and talks were made with analysis of potentials, strengths and opportunities for tourism development in Ninh Thuan in particular, the Central coastal region and Highlands in general. In addition, opinions of scientists, researchers and leaders of various travel/tourism organizations and associations pinpointed how limited the current infrastructure, human resources, tourism environment, promotion programs and specific product development are in meeting demands. The need for a vision, an appropriate orientation and strategy was identified as the key to enhance the tourism development of each area and the whole region.
In his speech, the head of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Mr Nguyen Van Tuan, potentials of Central coastal region and Highlands with diverse advantages for tourism development were stressed, solutions were pointed out. While the central region is concentrated with the greatest opportunities for sea-based tourism in Vietnam, the Highlands is the region of forests and jungles, bordering the central coastal provinces with opposite features of topography and tourism resources. The combination of sea and mountainous features, together with cultural special characteristics of the two areas opens up opportunities and values for tourism development.
Therefore, linking to develop tourism products, promoting activities among localities and linking in human resources is a trend, also an opportunity to turn potentials into positive changes and investment attraction.
“The Central coastal region and Highlands consists of 9 localities: Thua Thien Hue, Da Nang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and 5 Highlands provinces: Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Lak, Dak Nong and Lam Dong. The region is considered as a bridge linking two ends of the country, possessing diverse natural and tourism resources.
In 2013, 24 million tourists come to the region, accounting for 56.47% the whole nation’s tourists; of which 5 million tourists were foreigners, revenues reached VND 34,600 billion, making valuable contribution to the social economic development of these localities and the whole nation.”
IPC Binh Dinh