Tourism sector schedules great treats for 2008
17:16' 30/12/2007 (GMT+7)


VietNamNet Bridge - Vietnam’s tourism administration has designed a series of big-scale tourist events for 2008 with the aim of cashing in on the country’s diverse culture and landscapes.

It has selected the Mekong delta city of Can Tho as the main venue for the 2008 Tourism Year which looks to promote the exploration of beauty waterways of the Mekong delta.

Events planned will include ceremonies to launch and wrap up the 2008 Tourism Year and festivals featuring the distinctive culture of the Mekong delta. These events are expected to draw close to 2 million visitors and make 600 billion VND in revenue.

The northern provinces of Phu Tho, Yen Bai and Lao Cai will continue to host for the fourth year a tourism programme in commemoration of the nation’s origins. The provinces look to receive 4.5 million visitors, including 350,000 foreign tourists.

Hue festival 2008 is another big event which will include hundreds of special cultural and tourist activities. Twenty-two art troupes from 16 countries had, by the end of October, registered to participate in the festival, which is slated for June.

An international fireworks contest is to be held along the banks of the Han river in the central coastal city of Da Nang , said the tourism administration.

The event, with prizes totalling 100,000 USD, will see the participation of competitors coming from countries having experiences and tradition in fireworks. It will be accompanied with cultural, artistic, sport and sea-based events.

In May, a Miss Tourism contest will take place in Ho Chi Minh City for the first time. The winner from the beauty pageant will represent Vietnam at the 2008 International Miss Tourism Pageant.

The Miss Universe competition is also slated to come to Vietnam for the first time to be held in the coastal city of Nha Trang in central Khanh Hoa province. Expected is the participation of more than 100 contestants from around the world.

It is expected to draw more foreign visitors to Vietnam as the event will be broadcasted live on 170 television channels from 120 countries.

Apart from big tourism events, the national tourism administration plans to send representatives to attend 12 tourism trade fairs and expos next year.

(Source: VNA)