Quang Ninh (VNA) – The National Tourism Year 2018 is anopportunity for the northern province of Quang Ninh to promote its image tointernational friends, said Chairman of the provincial People’s CommitteeNguyen Duc Long.
The province, which is home to the World Heritage site of Ha Long Bay,will host the National Tourism Year 2018 themed “Ha Long-Heritage, Wonder,Friendly Destination”. About 100 events will be held during the year by QuangNinh province, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and otherlocalities.
Deputy Director of the Quang Ninh Tourism Department Trinh Dang Thanhsaid that as the host, the province will arrange a series of cultural, sportsand tourism programmes.
Highlights of the event will include the opening ceremony and CarnavalHa Long 2018 in Ha Long city, which is scheduled for April 28 next year.
Meanwhile, the closing programme will be held in January 2019 incombination with the opening of the ASEAN Tourism Forum 2019 and the Ha Long -FLC 2019 open golf tournament.
[Quang Ninh to go vibrant with National Tourism Year 2018]
Quang Ninh will accelerate procedures for the early launch of a hydroplane service to Co To Island in summer 2018. The province will also reviewaccommodation facilities across the province to meet tourists’ demand insummer.
As the main venue of many activities during the National Tourism Year, HaLong City has stepped up various projects such as improving urbaninfrastructure and lighting system. The city is working hard to complete theconstruction of several drainage systems and road upgrade by early of 2018 toserve the national tourism event.
The province attracted more than 8.6 million tourists in the first tenmonths of 2017, including nearly 3.4 million foreigners, year-on-year jumps of18 percent and 21 percent, respectively.
By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, includingseven million foreigners, and rake in 30-40 trillion VND (1.3-1.7 billion USD)in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15 percent to thegross regional domestic product (GRDP).-VNA