Binh Thuan Province Tapping Marine Tourism Strengths

Binh Thuan province aims to attract 2.8 million visitors in 2011, up 12 % from a year earlier, of which international arrivals will account for 10 %, and to earn total revenue of VND3,250 billion, up 30 %. From the start of 2011, the tourism industry of Binh Thuan province is determined to create exclusive tourism products from local strengths and potential and is committed to facilitating and encouraging domestic and foreign companies to invest in tourism development.

 

Giving emphasis to this, Mr Nguyen Van Thu, Vice Chairman of Binh Thuan Province People’s Committee, said: “The province is determined to promote the hospitality industry in response to the State’s policy of expanding investments to make tourism a spearhead economic sector. In the coming time, we will invest in infrastructure, train human resources and create exclusive, local tourism products. The province will provide favourable conditions for domestic and foreign investors to learn and invest in tourism in Phan Thiet City, especially marine tourism projects, in order to create new attractive tourism products to catch the fancy of domestic and foreign travellers."

 

Since the beginning of 2011, Binh Thuan province has launched tourism festivals in major cities. The Binh Thuan International Sailing Festival titled "Boat - Sea - Golden Sand - Sun" recently held in the capital city of Hanoi is one of Vietnam’s largest tourism events in 2011. Through this festival, the province introduced its unrivalled sea strengths. Endowed with a beautiful long coastline and unparalleled marine tourism services, Binh Thuan has become increasingly attractive to tourism businesses.

 

Particularly, many water sporting activities popular in developed countries, like surfing and rowing, are now available in the province. Binh Thuan has also participated in many projects to serve the demand of tourists for the Southern Central Coast - Phu Yen Tourism Year 2011.

 

Binh Thuan province has many advantages in sea tourism but it also has many problems. According to Nguyen Tien Dung, Director of Golden Tour Conference and Tourism Centre, Binh Thuan has the potential to become a tourist centre as it has many famous high class sea resorts, however, the full potential is still unmet because of weak infrastructure, slow progress of investment projects, and unprofessional investment for beautiful landscapes, cultural and historical relics. To develop tourism, Binh Thuan province needs to continue improving its development planning, attract investment capital and diversify its advantageous tourism products.

 

In response to the provincial tourism development strategy, Saigon Investment Company boldly invested into building Vietnam’s first international standard marina, expected to be opened in 2012, said Chairman Duong Van Phuc. The marina, apart from being a mooring site, also provides new services in Vietnam like yacht leasing and surfing.

 

“We expect to contribute to the general development of tourism industry and bring new tourism products to Mui Ne - Hon Rom in the future. Sunny Villa, a model of hill-leaning sea-view villas in combination with golf course and marina, will give visitors the sense of perfection when they come to Phan Thiet and generate a new spirit for Mui Ne - Hon Rom,” said Phuc. Lying not far from the country’s largest economic hub of Ho Chi Minh City, underway Long Thanh - Dau Giay highway, blueprint Dau Giay - Phan Thiet highway, and finally Phan Thiet international airport will generate the best conditions for investors, tour operators and visitors in Vietnam and other nations to arrive in Hon Rom - Mui Ne. This presents a great opportunity and challenge for the tourism industry of Binh Thuan province and the marine tourism sector of Vietnam in the process of international integration.