The international conference on Sustainable Tourism Development in the Central Provinces was held last week at DTU. It was proposed at the meeting that, because of its central location, Danang should consider working together with the neighboring provinces on tourism development.
Delegates (photo: T.C)
DTU Vice-Provost Associate Professor Le Duc Toan, Professor Lim Sang Taek, from Dong A University in Korea, Dr. Nguyen Van Hung, Vice-Director of the Danang Institute for Socioeconomic Development and Research, and 200 other local and foreign delegates attended.
According to General Statistics Vietnam, the number of international tourists visiting Vietnam reached 12.9 million in 2017, and over 12.8 million in the first ten months of 2018, a 20% increase. However, the 8 billion dollars that tourism currently contributes yearly to the gross national income of 220 billion dollars does not live up to expectations or reach the 2018 target.
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co explained how Vietnam attracts an increasing number of foreign tourists with its breathtaking sights. This should accelerate dramatically as Vietnam and Danang in particular, adapt to international integration with ASEAN and other Asian countries.
Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co hoped this conference would be an opportunity for lecturers and researchers on Tourism to meet with domestic and foreign experts to exchange experience, contribute ideas and seek effective solutions to promote the development of tourism in Da Nang and other central provinces.
Hero of Labor, Distinguished Teacher Le Cong Co speaking at the conference (photo: T.C)
The conference focused on key issues, such as the development of marine and island tourism attractions along the South Central Coast, ecotourism products and cultural and heritage programs. Also discussed were ways of finding investors for new tourism opportunities on the North Central Coast, in Danang, Quang Nam, Quang Ngai and Thua Thien - Hue, establishing new tourist locations all over Central Vietnam and getting communities to work together for a sustainable future. Finally mentioned were how tourism management could be improved at government level and how to prepare employees to meet the stringent integration requirements of Vietnam to work with foreign tourist businesses.
Delegates focused on discussing the nature of the Central Vietnamese “Tourism Brand”, in an area that is quickly becoming well-known on Vietnamese and international tourist maps. However, in order to take full advantage of this phenomenon, Danang and its neighbors must work together to develop new, impressive and sustainable attractions, staffed by tourism professionals, to fully satisfy both tourist and government expectations.
Thirty-six papers were selected to be published in national and international ISI journals, and will contribute to the sustainable tourism development of Danang and the Central provinces in the future.
(Media Center)