Hanoi (VNA) – With many international singers choosing Vietnam as a destinationof their world tours recently, musical tourism is expected to develop and helpthe country attract travellers who are ready to spend big.

Since presaleand official tickets for the 8Wonder Music Festival, scheduled to take place atthe Vinpearl Nha Trang complex on July 22 evening, online room booking platformAgoda has recorded a surge in searches for accommodations in the coastal cityof Nha Trang in central Khanh Hoa province, by 80% from domestic users and 25% intotal.

The festivalfeatures US pop star Charlie Puth and many famous Vietnamese singers, namely HaAnh Tuan, Ho Ngoc Ha, HIEUTHUHAI, MONO, Tlinh, Amee, and DJ Mie.

TheTuoi tre (Youth) newspaper cited Tran Minh Duc, Vice Chairman of the Nha TrangTourism Association, as saying that this festival is a pioneer event in combingmusic with a leading tourism complex, helping draw more visitors to Khanh Hoa.

NguyenHuy Hoang, Managing Director of Klook Vietnam – a travel experiences bookingplatform, said that international music events are important to tourism in anycountry as they grab the interest of not only fans in that country but also thosefrom around the world.

Recentinternational music shows in the region have witnessed long queues of fanswaiting to hunt tickets, indicating a strong connection between those eventsand tourism, he noted, adding that visitors come to a destination to enjoy amusic show and also explore local destinations and culture.

Aside fromthe 8Wonder Music Festival, businesses are also holding a number of other interestingevents such as the “Canh dieu” (Kite) film awards presentation ceremony at VegaCity and the Hong Kong - Nha Trang yacht race, said Director of the Khanh Hoaprovincial Department of Tourism Nguyen Thi Le Thanh.

Travelcompanies and tourism authorities are working together to advertise attractive tourismproducts and events to both local residents and visitors. These activities helpnot only increase the number of visitors but also extend their stays andencourage their spending, she added.

A representativeof the 8Wonder Music Festival organising board said this world-class music showis the first step to help develop Vietnam into a destination of internationalmusic events and festivals. The success of the festival with the presence ofCharlie Puth will be a prerequisite for the organisers to consider holding more similarinternational-level events annually.

Vietnamis completely able to become a promising destination for global stars duringtheir tours, the representative noted.

Meanwhile,Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang, Deputy General Director of tourism firm Vietravel,pointed out that public - private partnerships are necessary to turn music andsport programmes into successful tourism products. Capable businesses stillneeds support from ministries, sectors, and localities hosting those events tocreate truly attractive events./.