New festival aims to lift Khanh Hoa's tourism

Taking place from July 13 to August 3, EGN 2024 highlighted the peak of summer tourism in Khanh Hoa. During the festival, accommodation establishments reported an average room occupancy rate exceeding 90 per cent, which is a positive signal for future events.

According to Khanh Hoa Department of Tourism, the province welcomed more than 1.5 million overnight visitors in July, marking a 15 per cent increase from June and a 24 per cent rise compared to the same month in 2023. Total tourism revenue was estimated at over $280 million, up by nearly 25 per cent from the same period last year.

In the first seven months of 2024, Khanh Hoa's accommodation facilities served around 6.7 million visitors, a 68 per cent increase on-year. International visitors numbered approximately 2.7 million, nearly 2.8 times more than the previous year. Total tourism revenue was estimated at $1.3 billion, representing a more than 73 per cent increase from the previous year.

At the closing ceremony on August 3, Dinh Van Thieu, Vice Chairman of Khanh Hoa People's Committee, said, "Khanh Hoa province hopes that the success of EGN 2024 will enhance tourism promotion efforts, bolster the Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa tourism brand, stimulate growth in the region's tourism sector for 2024 and beyond, and support the province's economic and social development."

"Thsnks to the event's impact on promoting the image of Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa, the province will consider holding the Bay of Light Festival annually," Thieu added.

During the closing night, Khanh Hoa set two Guinness World Records: "The Largest Light Show Depicting World Wonders" (performed by a French team), and "The Largest Light Show of Vietnamese Cultural Symbol - Lac Bird” (performed by a UAE team). This milestone adds to Vietnam's total of 15 Guinness World Records in the past 20 years, reinforcing Nha Trang and Khanh Hoa as notable destinations on the global tourism map.

EGN 2024 highlighted the peak of summer tourism in Khanh Hoa. Photo: Corex

EGN 2024, the world's first international drone light competition, vividly recreated landscapes and heritage sites of Khanh Hoa and beyond using advanced drones. Unlike fireworks, drones are environmentally friendly, silent, and chemical-free, making them a popular alternative for light displays worldwide.

The choice of environmentally friendly drone displays by EGN 2024 highlights how serious and creative the local government and businesses are in establishing the festival's reputation while promoting sustainable tourism development. This aligns with Khanh Hoa’s goal of becoming a premier international marine tourism and service centre.

In 2024, Khanh Hoa aims to attract nine million overnight visitors, including three million international visitors, and is targeting tourism revenue of approximately $1.6 billion. Continuous large-scale and unique events throughout the year are designed to effectively leverage cultural, tourism, and entertainment values to attract visitors and drive tourism growth.

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