The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) held a press briefing on December 25 to announce the top ten tourism events in 2007.
1. National tourism year in Thai Nguyen
Thai Nguyen tourism year 2007 entitled “Returning to the capital of mountain and forest wind - the Northernmost Revolutionary Base” was held successfully. It helped revive the historical values of the revolutionary cause among Vietnamese people.
2. Welcoming the four millionth international tourist
Surpassing the target of 4 million international tourists has laid a foundation for the Vietnam tourism to receive between 6 and 6.5 million international visitors by 2010, gradually turning tourism into a spearhead industry for the economy.
3. Vietnam tourism promoted in CNN for the first time
Vietnam tourism was promoted for the first time on the international television channel CNN. The video clip, which cost the Vietnamese government VND4.7 billion, has been broadcast at prime time for three
months since October 10.
4.Successful meeting of the Tourism Ministers of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia
The first meeting was held on the sidelines of the Ho Chi Minh City International Tourism Fair. Ministers of Tourism of the three countries signed a joint declaration on tourism cooperation with the aim of implementing the “three nations, one destination” tourism programme.
5. Voting for Halong Bay as one of the seven new wonders
A campaign to vote for Halong Bay as one of the seven new wonders of the world has been held across the country and received wide support from local people and international friends. The vote has helped promote the prestige of Vietnam’s tourism and enhance the nation’s pride.
6. Successfully conducting surveys to develop new tourism programmes
Conducting a number of surveys to develop tourism products across the country, especially in remote, mountainous, border and island areas has helped change awareness of tourism and discover new tourism sources. Localities have made significant progress in tourism promotion. Trans-national surveys between Vietnam-Laos-Thailand-Cambodia and Vietnam-China have boosted regional coordination in tourism development. This will provide a new orientation for building trans-national tourism products that will help develop the region as a destination to attract visitors.
7. Successfully organizing Dalat Flower Festival
The festival was held from December 15 to 21 with the participation of 100 businesses from 24 provinces and cities in Vietnam and seven countries of the world. This included the Netherlands, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Belgium, Denmark and China. It was a good chance to promote the image of Dalat in particular and Vietnam in general to international friends as well as a place for businesses and investors to exchange experiences and seek co-operative opportunities.
8. Boom in foreign invested tourism projects
In first ten months of 2007, there were 41 foreign direct invested (FDI) projects in tourism and hotels with a capitalized value of US$1, 773 million, up 17.2% compared to the same period last year. From 1988 to October 2007, Vietnam has attracted 229 FDI projects with a total investment capital of US$6, 084 million.
9. Website vietnamtourism.com celebrating its 10th anniversary
On December 16, 1997, Vietnamtourism.com – the first official tourism website was launched in Vietnam. In the past ten years, the website has been developing strongly. With five languages – Vietnamese, English, French, Chinese and Japanese, the website now has a reputation both at home and abroad.
10. Increasing the number of overland tourists to central region
The pilot programme to welcome Thai caravans to Vietnam has created a sudden increase of overland tourists to the central provinces. Most of them are from the ASEAN countries. This rise has contributed to the development of tourism in the region and turned ASEAN into a vital market for Vietnam’s tourism sector.
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