The International Grapes and Wine Festival 2014 wrapped up successfully in Phan Rang-Thap Cham city, the central province of Ninh Thuan, on July 19.

An international trade fair, a photo exhibition and several scientific seminars were organised during the three-day festival.

Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism Phan Quoc Anh said that the success of the festival has created a breakthrough for the grape planting and wine processing industry in the province, opening up a new and promising development direction for the tourism sector of not only Ninh Thuan but also the entire central coastal and Central Highlands regions.

The event, with the participation of 11 countries over the world, such as France, Italy, the US, and Germany, also gave the locality a chance to promote itself to investors and tourists from in and outside the country, Anh added.

More than 50,000 foreign and domestic tourists visited the province during the festival.

Ninh Thuan has the largest vineyards in Vietnam, with 2,500 ha mainly in Ninh Phuoc and Ninh Hai districts and Phan Rang-Thap Cham city. The grape output is between 60,000-65,000 tonnes a year.

On February 17, 2012, the National Office of Intellectual Property of Vietnam (NOIP) issued Decision No. 194 certifying the geographical indication of Ninh Thuan grape products, which helps raise the value of Ninh Thuan grapes on the market.-VNA