Tourism Year 2011 kicked off in Phu Yen

The National Tourism Year 2011, themed “Exotic Beaches and Islands”, was kicked off on Friday evening in the central coastal province of Phu Yen.

The event, with various activities, will also take place in other central provinces of Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Đinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Đa Nang City.

Vietnam has vast potential for the development of different types of marine tourism as the country has a coast line of 3,200 km and thousands of islands rich in biodiversity. Meanwhile, the central coastal region is endowed with exotic beaches and islands and specific cultural heritages.

The Tourism Year 2011 is designed to accelerate investment in tourism development, thus attract more tourists to this region.

Vietnam also approved a strategy on marine economic development with an aim to increase the marine sector’s contribution to the GDP to over 50 per cent.

The activities for the National Tourism Year 2011 as follows:

+ Activities directed by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) or coordinated with other agencies

No.	Activities	Time	Place	Presiding Agency
1	International Mountaineering Prize for conquering Đa Bia Mountain	March 26-27	Đa Bia Mount, Phu Yen	Vietnam National Administration of Exercise and Sports
2	Cultural exchange between Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and some other countries	April	Phu Yen Province	International Cooperation Department
3	Opening Ceremony of “The special month for sea and island tourism”	April	Phu Yen Province	Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT)
4	International scientific conference: “South Central Cultural Heritage and tourism development in international integration”	April	Phu Yen Province	Vietnam Culture and Art Institute
5	ASEAN traditional music Festival	June	Phu Yen Province	Art Performance Department
6	National tournament of beach football and the national Vovinam championship	June (on Tet Đoan Ngo, the 5th day of the fifth lunar month)	Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province	Vietnam National Administration of Exercise and Sports
7	Culture – Sports – Tourism Festival of Vietnam’s ethnic groups in the central and highland provinces	July	Phu Yen Province	Basic Culture Department
8	Contest of Miss Tourism in the South Central Coastal provinces	July	Phu Yen Province	VNAT
9	Food Festival with typical foods from North, Central and South provinces	July	Phu Yen Province	VNAT
10	National Performing Arts Festival	July	Phu Yen Province	Art Performance Department
11	National Seminar: “Vietnam’s sea and island tourism – opportunities and challenges”	July	Phu Yen Province	MOCST’s Office in Đa Nang City
12	ASEAN Choir Games	From August 28 to September 042011	Tuy Hoa City, Phu Yen Province and Nha Trang City, Khanh Hoa Province	International Cooperation Department
13	The 17th Vietnam Film Festival – 2011	November	Phu Yen Province	Cinema Department

+ Activities presided over by Phu Yen Province

No.	Activities	Time	Place	Presiding Agency
1	Hand-over ceremony of the rotary flag of “National Tourism Year” organizing between Hanoi City and Phu Yên Province	At the end of December 2010, on the occasion of the National Tourism Year 2010’s closing ceremony	Hà Nội City	People’s Committee of Ha noi and Phu Yen Province
2	Nhan Mountain Nguyen Tieu Poetry Festival	February 17, 18 (the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month)	Nhan Mountain – Tuy Hoa City	People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province
3	Meeting for the 400th anniversary of Phu Yen Province’ establishment and the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2011	April 1, 2011	1/4 Square, Tuy Hoa City	People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province, MOCST
4	400 years of formation and development (1611-2011) of Phu Yen Exhibition-Fair	At the end of March and beginning of April 2011	Tuy Hoa City	People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province, Ministry of Industry and Trade
5	Welcome ceremony of the certificate of national landscape vestige for Xuan Đai Bay.	April (associated with The special month for sea and island tourism)	Xuan Đai Bay, Song Cau Town	People’s Committee of Song Cau Town
6	Closing ceremony of National Tourism Year 2011 and Hand-over ceremony of the rotary flag for organizing board of National Tourism Year 2012	At the end of December 2011	Tuy Hoa City	People’s Committee of Phu Yen Province

In addition, the central provinces also will hold many diverse activities on the occasion of the Visit Vietnam Year – Phu Yen 2011 such as: Đa Nang International Firework Festival; The First International Choir Festival; Quang Ngai Beauty Contest; Quang Ngai Island and Sea Culture Festival; National Festival of folk songs and bai choi (singing while playing cards); The Fifth Nha Trang Sea Festival – 2011; Vietnam Sea Villages Festival; Mui Ne – Binh Thuan International Kite water-skiing and Windsurfing Prize; Binh Thuan Tourism Festival; Kate Festival. – VIR

Tags: Vietnam tourism year 2011