Hanoi (VNA) – With a view to turningtourism into a spearhead sector, the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau hashelped travel agencies renew their tours while diversifying and improvingtourism product quality.

In late December 2017, a group of nearly 20cruise tourists toured markets in Ba Ria-Vung Tau after landing at Cai MepPort. They showed their interest in the southern identities of Long Dien Marketwhile expressing excitement when making and trying Vietnam’s traditional “banhtrang” (rice paper) during a trip to a village in Long Phuoc commune of Ba Riacity.

Tran Ngoc Cuong, Director of the Phuoc LapCooperative – an investor of the Bung Bac eco-tourism site in Phuoc Huu hamletof Long Phuoc commune, Ba Ria city, said the tourism site, covering more than1.7ha of land, was used for fish, fruit and vegetable farming in the past.Realising the area’s eco-tourism potential, his cooperative built and upgradedfacilities to serve visitors. The site’s pristine and tranquil landscape is nowa magnet for domestic and foreign tourists.

Director of Alpha Travel Company Nguyen NgocHung said most of foreign cruise tourists come from developed countries. Theyhave high spending level and strict requirements of service quality. Travelagencies have actively renewed tours and improved service quality, resulting ina considerable increase in the number of cruise visitors to Ba Ria-Vung Tau.

The province has also enhanced attractinginvestment into major and high-end tourism projects while encouragingbusinesses to tap potential markets. Many tourism complexes were born andgained prestige such as Ho Tram Strip and Six Senses Con Dao. The province alsohas high hope on Paradise Vung Tau, another complex that is taking shape.

Considering tourism as a driver of localdevelopment, Ba Ria-Vung Tau re-established the provincial Department ofTourism in early 2017. Later the same year, the provincial Party Committeeissued a resolution on developing high-quality tourism with a view to upgradingtourism infrastructure, improving product and service quality, and ensuring asafe, civilised and friendly tourism environment.

Nguyen Thu Trang, a tourist from Ho Chi MinhCity, said after Vung Tau launched a clean-up campaign, her family chose thecity as their holiday destination. They are impressed with the determination ofthe municipal administration.

Aside from Vung Tau, a number of localitiesboasting tourism strength like Dat Do, Long Dien, Xuyen Moc and Con Dao havecarried out drastic solutions to better local tourism.

Trinh Hang, Director of the Tourism Departmentof Ba Ria-Vung Tau, said the province will ask the Government to soon upgradeCon Son Airport in Con Dao Island so that this airport can handle Airbus A320sand similar airplanes. 

It will also work to speed up projects providingspeedboat services linking Con Dao with the mainland. Boat routes will also beopened to connect islets of Con Dao district. Meanwhile, 13 freshwater lakesand wastewater and waste treatment systems will be built in the district, headded.

Secretary of the Ba Ria-Vung Tau Party CommitteeNguyen Hong Linh said the province welcomed nearly 3 million tourist arrivalsin 2017, up 11.3 percent from the previous year, which is a joyful sign.However, it still needs to remove barriers to local tourism development.

He noted Ba Ria-Vung Tau will work to attractmore visitors and hopes for an inflow of foreign tourists from tough markets.-VNA