The central coastal province of Phu Yen expects to welcome half a million tourists during the National Tourism Year 2011, up about 180,000 compared to this year, said Tran Quang Nhat, Deputy Director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Nhat said that the hospitality industry in Phu Yen was still lagging behind other neighboring localities, but arrivals are increasing by 30% annually. If the target is realized, that will set a record growth rate of 55% or so.
The province expects the festive year will help Phu Yen make a big change for tourism development, and make Phu Yen better known to tourists. “We’ve been making preparations for the tourism year since 2009. We hope 30 tourism, culture and sports events at home and other provinces will help us woo more tourists,†he said.
Phu Yen has been chosen to host the national tourism year, with main events to be staged in the province and other supporting events in neighboring localities.
The tourism year with the theme Beaches & Islands will take place in Phu Yen and other provinces and cities from Khanh Hoa to Danang. Some VND24 billion is needed to organize events in Phu Yen alone, including over VND10 billion from sponsors.
The province has prepared 88 accommodation facilities with about 2,000 rooms and 10 tourism and entertainment facilities. The province will have some more hotels and resorts put into service in the coming time.
“We can have enough rooms to cater to tourists next year. We need more tourism services for tourists and are investing more in such facilities,’ Nhat said.
The grand opening of the festive year will take place on April 1 in Tuy Hoa City, although many festivities will take place earlier. These include the International Mountain Climbing Tournament to conquer the Da Bia Mountain, the First International Vietnam Musical Festival, Quang Ngai Tourism Beauty Contest, and the National Folksong Bai Choi Singing Festival among others.
The organizing committee has included familiar tourism events in other localities into the year-long program like the fireworks competition in Danang.
The committee said that many activities are being done to promote the event at home and abroad.
Nhat said the organizing committee would launch brochures for the event soon and would cooperate with other provinces to launch products so as to extend tourists’ stay in Phu Yen and the region.
“We will ask travel firms to help in making attractive programs to extend tourists’ stay in the region,†he said.