Spain supports Vietnam’s sustainable tourism

May 23, 2013 | 09:23

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A Spanish-funded project on sustainable tourism development in Vietnam’s highland regions has been a great success, a conference was told in Hanoi on May 21.

The project, sponsored by the Spanish Government’s Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), was implemented in Central Highland and northwestern mountain provinces, including Dien Bien, Ha Giang, and Lao Cai from November 2011 to February 2013.

Ha Van Sieu, head of the Institute for Tourism Development Research (ITDR), reported that despite the moderate EUR400,000 budget, the project has successfully fulfilled all of its targets.

A website on community tourism in northwestern provinces was launched, serving as a forum for localities to exchange experiences in developing and promoting the tourism sector’s image.

Domestic and foreign experts worked together to release a bio-tourism and marine tourism guidebook for managers and visitors as well as a separate green tourism publication advising shops, restaurants, and tourist destinations.

Spanish Ambassador Alfonso Tena said Vietnam is gradually improving the quality of its tourism services, aiming to welcome 7 million foreign visitors in 2013.

Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) Head Nguyen Van Tuan noted tourism cooperation between Vietnam and Spain has grown considerably in recent years.

Vietnam received more than 31,000 Spanish visitors in 2012 and a further 7,243 in the first four months of 2013 alone.

Spain is currently providing Vietnam assistance for a number of tourism development projects including popularising tourism law, creating a national marketing strategy, planning Cat Ba Island and Hue City, and managing the country’s world heritage sites.

VOV

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