Binh Thuan Strives to Become Leading Tourism Destination in Asia – Pacific

Tourism is seen as one of the key advantages and economic sectors of Binh Thuan province. After three years of executing Resolution 09-NQ/TU dated October 25, 2016 by the Binh Thuan Provincial Party Committee on tourism development to 2020, the hospitality industry has robustly developed and reaped significant achievements in all aspects. Mr. Ngo Minh Chinh, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, grants an exclusive interview to Vietnam Business Forum Magazine’s reporter on this success. Cong Luan reports.

Could you please tell us about remarkable changes in the tourism industry of Binh Thuan province since the enforcement of Resolution 09-NQ/TU?

In the last three years, the tourism infrastructure system has been constantly invested and upgraded; tourism services have been markedly diversified; natural environment and social environment have been increasingly upgraded; and public awareness of tourism has been distinctly raised. Tourist arrivals have grown an average of 12.88% annually. International visitors accounts for 11-12%. Tourism revenue rises 19.25% a year on average. The room occupancy reaches 58-59%. In 2017, tourism accounted for 8.51% of the province’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) and 9.86% in 2018.

Binh Thuan province’s tourism formation and development process is attributed to a constant effort and endeavor of all levels, sectors, localities and people. The support of domestic and foreign investors and tourists has also helped develop the local tourism. Besides, these remarkable achievements also come from Party and State supports and guidelines on innovation, opening and integration, materialized by directives, policies, orientations and strategic solutions for each situation and trend. The image and position of Binh Thuan have been constantly raised and enhanced in the country and in the international arena, thus creating positive momentum for tourism development.

In addition to advantages of natural landscapes, what are important factors for the tourism sector of Binh Thuan to woo more tourists? On December 18, 2018, the Prime Minister issued Decision 1772/QD-TTg approving the Master Plan for Mui Ne National Tourism Development of Binh Thuan Province to 2025, with a vision to 2030. Is this considered a new development motivation for the local tourism?

In addition to abundant natural tourism resources together with sea, islands and natural forests, Binh Thuan has diverse humanity resources featured by many distinctive historical and cultural relics and traditional cultural festivals imbued with national identity. Moreover, Binh Thuan cuisine is also very rich and diverse with many famous specialties that interest tourists from far and wide, for example dried squid, pancakes with duck meat, shellfish salad, fish sauce and dragon fruit.

The Prime Minister’s Decision 1772/QD-TTg is both a driving force and a challenge for the tourism development of the province in the coming time. The approval of the Master Plan for Mui Ne National Tourist Area is the basis for the province to develop future tourism development plans in a bid to realize the goal of becoming a leading tourism destination in Asia - Pacific. The province targets to attract 9 million visitors, including 1.5 million international visitors, in 2025 and 14 million visitors, including 2.5 million international visitors, in 2030.

How has the province developed synchronous transport infrastructure and attracted potential investors to build world-class resorts for Binh Thuan’s tourism industry to flourish?

Currently, we are urgently working with central agencies to accelerate the launch of Phan Thiet Airport and expressway projects.

Particularly, Phan Thiet Port is aimed to ensure smooth and stable traffic from Phan Thiet City to Phu Quy Island District with eight passenger ships (three high-speed ships, one medium-speed ships and four normal speed ships). The province has also upgraded railways to bring tourists to Binh Thuan and actively called investment capital for tourist transport services such as seaplanes and yachts. We also consider opening waterways from Phan Thiet to Ho Chi Minh City and neighboring provinces.

To execute the Prime Minister's decision, Binh Thuan has attracted new investment flows from strategic investors who have economic potential and tourism experience such as FLC Group, Novaland, TMS and TTC. Each project has over VND10 trillion of investment capital. The Master Plan for Mui Ne National Tourism Area Development includes projects of high-class tourist complexes which will provide high-end marine tourism products and a range of other luxury travel services in the future. This is the premise for the province to court tourists with high spending capacity and longer stay.

To develop tourism into a key economic sector by 2020 as set in Resolution 09-NQ/TU, what will the tourism sector focus on in the future?

We will fully and promptly implement the Master Plan for Mui Ne National Tourism Area Development to 2025, with a vision to 2030, as approved by the Prime Minister; Phu Quy Tourist Area Plan to 2030, as approved by the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; and Binh Thuan Tourism Development Project to 2025, with a vision to 2030.

Additionally, the tourism sector will concentrate on advertising and promoting Binh Thuan tourism brands as an international tourist destination; develop various tourism types and products; and encourage typical handicraft and souvenir development. The sector will develop and improve the quality of tourism human resources according to international standards to meet medium and long-term requirements and, at the same time, continue to remove hardships against tourism projects, and provide favorable conditions to put projects into operation.

Thank you very much!