Spain Helps Vietnam Central Province Develop Sustainable Tourism

The Spanish Agency for International Cooperation is cooperating with the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) and local authorities to make a plan for Hue’s sustainable tourism development by 2020. Launched in August 2008, the plan’s major components, including setting up a center for visitors, have been completed, the Van Hoa newspaper reported, citing a conference on Jan 19. The plan will contribute to improving the city residents’ life besides preserving cultural values and facilitating tourism and economic development, said Jordi Gable Lopez from the Spanish Agency. The imperial city of Hue, recognized as the world tangible and intangible heritages by the UNESCO is the starting point of a tour crossing central Vietnam. The local authorities will also join hands with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize a press conference on Hue Festival 2010 themed “Cultural Heritage - International Integration and Development” on Jan 21.
In 2009, Thua Thien Hue welcomed more than 1.3 million visitors, including 567,000 foreign tourists and earned tourism revenues of VND695 billion ($37.6 million). In 2010, the province aims to welcome 1.5 million tourists with revenues up 15% from 2009.