Quang Binh seeks ways to fully tap tourism potential

The central coastal province of Quang Binh held an event in Ha Noi on April 23 to promote its tourism products and seek ways to tap its tourism potential.
Boasting a long coastline riddled with beaches, historic and spiritual sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site—the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park—Quang Binh has plentiful opportunities to develop tourism into one of its economic pillars, according to delegates attending the event.
According to Nguyen Quoc Hung, Deputy Director General of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), the Phong Nha – Ke Bang National Park with its world-famous caves could be as popular as Ha Long Bay with adequate investment.
Hung said the province should design various tours suitable for groups from all over the world from the European Union to East Asian countries.
Tran Tien Dung, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said that the province has created a number of tours, without overlapping, at cave systems around the province, as well as seaside eco-tourism and spiritual tours to Vung Chua – Dao Yen, General Vo Nguyen Giap’s final resting place.
One of Quang Binh’s weaknesses, according to Dung, is the lack of accommodation due to a limited number of hotels and guesthouses.
The province is also developing homestay and farmstay tourism to help tourists experience the province’s scenic nature, hospitable people and tribal culture.
In 2014, Quang Binh welcomed 2.7 million visitors, up nearly 100 percent, 60 percent of which were international tourists, a 26 percent increase..