At the opening ceremony.
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Attending the opening ceremony were representatives from the Party and Government, local officials and cultural counsellors from Laos, Thailand, China, Japan, and the Republic of Korea.
This is the first of a series of culture and tourism events that will be held throughout the year in different localities with the aim to attract more local and foreign investors to the northwestern region.
The 2017 National Tourism Year, themed “Northwest colours”, creates a good chance for regional localities to introduce and promote their tourism potential and strengths, thus attracting more and more domestic and international visitors.
The event is also considered as a bridge to boost tourism cooperation among localities nationwide.
Speaking at the opening speech, Nguyen Van Binh, head of the Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission and the Steering Committee for the Northwestern Region, stressed the significance of the event, adding that it aims to start an array of activities towards realising the target of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector of the country.
He expressed his belief that tourism in the region in particular and Vietnam in general will make breakthrough developments in 2017.
Binh noted that tourism development in Vietnam is still yet to match the potential and advantages, citing limitations in the quality of tourism products, human resources, infrastructure and environmental sanitation.
Head of Party Central Committee’s Economic Commission Nguyen Van Binh attends the event.
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Dang Xuan Phong, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, stressed that the region always welcomes visitors from Vietnam and other parts of the world.
Chairman Phong said that he believes the targets of the 2017 National Tourism Year will be realised successfully, promoting sustainable tourism development in the region and affirming its position in the country’s tourism map.
According to the provincial People’s Committee, as the host of 2017 National Tourism Year, Lao Cai has coordinated with other regional localities to prepare, with the focus on developing typical tourist products of the northwestern region.
The region will focus on eight typical tourism products, including community-based tourism, terraced rice fields, flower seasons and mountain trekking, he added.
The region has 12 areas earmarked for development under the national strategy on tourism development in the period through 2020, including the Dong Van Karst Plateau, the Ban Gioc Falls, Mau Son Mountain, Ba Be Lake, Tan Trao, Dien Bien and Hoa Binh Reservoir.
Illustrative image.
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After the opening ceremony, visitors enjoyed an art performance by 100 artists with traditional songs and dances featuring diverse cultural identities of more than 30 ethnic groups in the northwestern region.
The northwest region comprises eight provinces, namely Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Son La and Phu Tho.
