Opening ceremony of the 2012 National Tourism Year for North Central Region takes place in Hue Imperial City. (Photo: www.tinmoi.vn)

(VOVworld) - The 2012 National Tourism Year of the North Central region focuses on Heritage Tourism. The region is endowed with many world and national heritage sites and has abundant festivities taking place all year round. Spring festival is at its peak January, February and April while in June and July, the region with beautiful beaches receives numerous visitors who come for summer vacations. VOV reporter Lan Anh today introduces to you typical characteristics of this year National Tourism Year.

The North Central Region has a concentration of world and national heritage sites with special festivals and breathtaking beaches. These are significant to develop specialized tourism products and increase a tourism-based economy. About 30 cultural, tourism, and sports activities will be held during the National Tourism Year. Heritage-rich Thua Thien Hue will host the event with season-specific activities held throughout the year. The 2012 Heritage Tourism Year continues the tourism development strategy for central provinces. It boosts regional links, and raises the source of revenue from the hospitality industry. Phan Tien Dung, Deputy Director of the Provincial Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department, says ‘The National tourism Year coincides with the 7^th Hue Festival offering advantages and opportunities for the province. We have focused our efforts on some key relics in the imperial city and the places to organize activities of the Year. This year, Hue will put part of the Launa Hue eco-tourism project from Singapore into operation to create new sightseeing destinations. Tourism packages including spiritual and religious tourism, tours of ancient villages and craft villages will be explored. This year, we will also turn Tam Giang Lagoon, the biggest lagoon in South East Asia into a special destination package’.

Realizing the importance of creating tourism networks among provinces in the region, each locality has scheduled a performance. Dinh Hai, Director of Quang Nam province’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Department, says his province will hold a Night Festival in Hoi An. He adds ‘The program is the recreation of the turn of the century-town for visitors to experience via daily cultural activities. We will also restore traditional festivals imbued with folk beliefs to help tourists better understand of the local lifestyle. A photo exhibition, a folk music concert and dancing show will also be organized’.

Nguyen Van Tuan, Director General of the Tourism Administration of Vietnam says that provinces involved in the National Tourism Year should increase cooperation to promote their potential. He notes ‘Activities in the National Tourism Year have created sequences of events to promote tourism and destinations packages of the areas involved. Through the activities, participating provinces will attract more investment to infrastructure and services’.

Lan Anh