Foreign tourists visit Thua Thien-Hue (Source: VNA)
The central province of Thua Thien-Hue received nearly 2.3 million tourists in the first nine months of this year, raking in over 2 trillion VND (88 billion USD), representing a year-on-year increase of 3.31 percent.
One-third of the figure was foreign tourists, an increase of 2.25 percent, compared to the same period last year.
The number of visitors to the locality by ocean liners exceeded 797,000 in the period. Notably, the five-star Voyage of the Seas of the US Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines with about 3,500 tourists on board docked at Chan May Port last month, the third largest ship to anchor at the port.
The Hue Monuments Conservation Centre offered promotions during the “Golden Tourism Week” programmes in 2015, which ran in April, June and September, contributing to attracting a large number of visitors to the locality.
Thanks to these efforts, Hue relic sites welcomed nearly 1.7 million in the reviewed period, 8.76 percent higher than the same period last year, with over 700,000 of whom being foreigners.
The provincial authorities hope to greet 3.1-3.3 million tourists in 2015, earning between 3.1-3.2 trillion VND (142 billion USD), up 15-18 percent compared to 2014. Revenue from the tourism and service sector is expected to contribute 56-57 percent to the locality’s gross domestic product.
To that end, the province will focus on building and upgrading infrastructure facilities in the Chan May Port and enhancing connections among sea port systems in order to foster growth in sea-travel.
The provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is working closely with foreign organisations to arrange training courses for employees in the field and promote promotion activities in the Republic of Korea, Hong Kong (China) and Japan, which are traditional tourism markets of the locality.-VNA
