The National Tourism Year 2022 themed ‘Quang Nam - a Green Tourism Destination’ officially kicked off at the Hoi An Memories Land in Quang Nam Province on Saturday.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivering his opening speech at the event. Photo: THU HA.

In attendance at the opening ceremony were Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, along with former leaders and leaders of the Party, State and Viet Nam Fatherland Front Committee, and leaders of ministries, departments, branches of the Central, Quang Nam Province and other localities.

As for Da Nang, Secretary of the Da Nang Party Committee cum Head of the National Assembly Deputies’ delegation Nguyen Van Quang, Chairman of the People’s Committee Le Trung Chinh, and Vice Chairman of the People's Committee Tran Phuoc Son, made their presence at the event.

In his opening speech delivered at the event, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the significance of the National Tourism Year 2022 in marking a full reopening of the country to foreign visitors, as well as paving the way for tourist activities nationwide to recover and thrive again.

The Government leader took the opportunity to ask national ministries and branches, Quang Nam Province and other localities nationwide to continue to uphold their achieved achievements, and to make efforts to overcome difficulties and challenges in order to develop tourism in the direction of professionalism, modernity, civilization, quality and efficiency.

He stressed the need for relevant agencies to promote the development of tourism in association with the conservation and promotion of heritage values ​​and national cultural identity.

PM Chinh urged governments at all levels, the business community, and each citizen to join hands to create a green environment for the sustainable development of the tourism industry by practical actions.

“It is necessary to be proactive and flexible in promoting the opening of the international tourism market in association with safe and flexible adaptation in the context of the new normal, thereby ensuring safety and conformity with the country’s economic recovery and development programme.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Van Hung said that the ministry would continue to closely coordinate with national ministries and branches, and localities nationwide, to thoroughly and synchronously implement the fully resume of tourism activities in the new normal, and restructure the tourism industry according to new requirements and trends.

He added top priority would be given to developing tourism in a quality and sustainable manner, promoting alliances and linkages between localities and businesses, boosting public-private cooperation, and developing and renewing tourism products to suit the needs of travellers.

Additionally, importance would be attached to increasing marketing campaigns to stimulate demand and restore the tourism market with many solutions, promoting innovation and diversifying tourism products, with a focus on boosting digital transformation in developing smart tourism, and applying information technology in tourism.

An arts performance at the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2022. Photo: THU HA

As planned, Quang Nam province will host a combined total of 64 major activities in the National Tourism Year 2022 themed ‘Quang Nam - a Green Tourism Destination’.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and 42 provinces and cities nationwide are set to hold 10 and 138 events in response.

Ten activities were organised within the framework of the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year on Saturday. Included were a tour to experience green tourism products in Quang Nam Province, the opening ceremony of community tourism villages in Cam Phu and Go Noi in Dien Ban Town, the ‘The My Son Sanctuary Legendary Night’ arts performance, the ‘Ancient Features of Hoi An Town’ programme, a hot air balloon festival, activities to experience cultural and festival space, a workshop on how to develop green tourism, a ceremony to announce a set of green tourism criteria and the Green tourism week 2022, the Quang Nam Golf Tournament 2022, a ceremony to launch the S-Race 2022 Run for Students, and various activities to celebrate 50^th anniversary of Viet Nam-India diplomatic ties.

The National Tourism Year is the typical cultural, economic, social and tourist event of the national scale, and is also the largest annual tourism event of Viet Nam’s tourism industry.

The event provides a good opportunity to introduce and promote the images, cultural values, resources and unique tourism products of Viet Nam, as well as strongly promote tourism development linkages between localities nationwide.

Reporting by THU HA – Translating by M.DUNG