Potential markets for Quang Binh tourism

A conference held to popularize Quang Binh’s tourism

Quang Binh Province People’s Committee Vice Chairman Tran Tien Dung said that in 2014 despite numerous difficulties, the province welcomed nearly 2.75 million tourists, a rise of 99.76 percent compared with 2013, and these included 43,253 foreign visitors.

Quang Binh is home to the Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park and over-400-year-old geomorphic systems with more than 300 caves such as Son Doong, Phong Nha, Tien Son, Thien Duong, En, Toi, and the Tu Lan Cave System. The province is also home to primeval forests with perse flora and fauna. In addition, Quang Binh has a long and beautiful coastline with famous beaches such as Da Nhay, Bao Ninh, Nhat Le, Quang Phu, Hai Ninh, and attractive relaxation and spiritual tourist sites such as Suoi Bang, and Chua Non-Nui Than. Quang Binh’s Vung Chua-Dao Yen tourist site attracts visitors not only for its natural beauty but also because it is the place where General Vo Nguyen Giap rests in peace.

The province has persified its tourism products to attract visitors. Quang Binh has attracted tourists to each of more than 300 caves in Phong Nha Ke Bang in a specific way, creating high revenue for the provincial tourism sector.

Tran Tien Dung added that in the time to come, Quang Binh Province would continue persifying its tourism products while at the same time promoting the development of ecological and community-based tourism.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Deputy Director General Nguyen Quoc Hung highly appreciated the efforts of the provincial tourism sector in the recent period. However, he said, “Diversifying tourism products is necessary, but in the context of limited human resources, Quang Binh should invest in popularizing existing products.”

VNAT advised Quang Binh to concentrate on developing ecological and maritime tourism and attracting visitors to its caves because these are the province’s advantages compared with other localities. “Phong Nha Ke Bang and Son Doong caves have attracted a lot of foreign tourists,” Nguyen Quoc Hung said.

Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Deputy Director Nguyen Minh Tien said that 67 percent of visitors to Quang Binh came from northern localities, largely from Hanoi. “Therefore, Hanoi is an important market for Quang Binh’s tourism. Meanwhile, nearby foreign markets such as Laos and Thailand are also important. To visit a place in either northern or southern Vietnam, tourists from Laos and Thailand have to go through Quang Binh. VNAT and Quang Binh should pay more attention to attracting tourists from Japan and the Republic of Korea,” Nguyen Quoc Hung said.

The Quang Binh Province People’s Committee has put in place a regulation that offers financial support for those who invest in accommodation and catering service facilities in the locality. The maximum support is VND10-20 million for each room.

By Thanh Tam