Officials of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and central Thanh Hoa province alongside heritage experts and travel agencies have gathered in a workshop to propose ways to connect heritage sites in Thanh Hoa and nationwide into attractive tours and tourism routes.

A workshop titled “Connect World Heritages in Vietnam” was held on September 16 within the framework of the National Tourism Year 2015.

Participants urged districts in Thanh Hoa to be more active in promoting their own images nationwide and enhancing linkages between relic and heritage sites of the province and to improve local community-tourist connections.

They said Thanh Hoa province, the host of the National Tourism Year this year, has a lot of potential for tourism development and has put a considerable effort to improve its image among travellers.

However, many works are still needed to be done, especially in terms of service quality, they said.

In addition, two cultural legacies, Duong Lam ancient village on the outskirts of Hanoi and Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in Vinh Loc district of Thanh Hoa, were selected for a pilot project that will make them be more attractive destinations with higher service quality.

VNAT deputy head Ha Van Sieu suggested authorities at local levels to develop tourism by more preferential policies, particularly for tourism infrastructure investors, improved management capability and expanded promotional campaigns.

Meanwhile, travel operators should build more tours linking relic and heritage spots across the country, following the main theme of this year’s National Tourism Year “Connecting World Heritages”, he added.

The VNAT organised a series of field trips and workshops on the theme from September 11-16 in response to the National Tourism Action Plan for 2015.

The field trips took tourism officials and businesses to dozens of relic sites and landscapes throughout the country, including the Citadel of the Ho Dynasty in Thanh Hoa, Xo Viet – Nghe Tinh Museum in Nghe An, Chay River – Toi Cave and General Vo Nguyen Giap’s Grave in Quang Binh, Bach Ma National Park and King Gia Long Tomb Complex in Thue Thien-Hue, Ba Na Hills Resort in Da Nang, Hoi An Ancient Town in Quang Nam, with the hope of providing an insight into these tourist hotpots and hereby, effective solutions will be put forward to boost the tourism sector in localities.-VNA