Some 1.55 million foreigners visit Hue during January-October this year. (Photo: VNA) ThuaThien-Hue (VNA) – The central province of Thua Thien-Hue received3.7 million visitors during January-October, a year-on-year surge of 21percent.
Of the total, there were 1.55 million foreigners, up 29.7 percent from the sametime last year and equal to the number of international arrivals in 2017.Visitors from the Republic of Korea topped the pile, accounting for one thirdof the total foreign visitors. Most of them flied to Hue for sightseeing,enjoying local dishes, and shopping.
The locality also saw stable growth in number of tourists from France, Germanyand the UK.
According to Nguyen Dung, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee,the province targets 4-4.2 million tourists this year, 10-12 percent higherthan in 2017. Tourism revenue is expected to rise 15-16 percent year-on-year to4-4.2 trillion VND (172 million- 180.7 million USD).
From the outset of the year, the province has carried out various activities toattract visitors, with the 10th Hue Festival in April considered themost notable event.
In February, along with lighting up the historic flag tower with 1,000 LEDlights, the province installed four canon-like fire guns at the tower which canfire real shots. The gun designs resemble the canons made by the Nguyendynasty.
The Hue MonumentConservation Centre in July launched an art programme titled “RoyalInspiration” in Hue Imperial City by night and Change of Guards ceremony at NgoMon Gate, creating a highlight for the Hue Imperial Palace at night.
A cultural space hasbeen formed on Le Loi street while more food zones and art activities are arrangedon Pham Ngu Lao, Vo Thi Sau and Chu Van An streets.
Particularly, a 400-metre ironwood-floored pedestrian bridge along the southernbank of Huong River is believed to woo a huge crowd of visitors.
Also, the locality has channeled focus on upgrading its tourism website in bothVietnamese and English, and making the website linked with those of the VietnamNational Administration of Tourism and its partners to popularise localtourism.
In addition, it has paid due attention to upgrading local infrastructure anddeveloping tourism products linking famous tourist attractions in the East-WestEconomic Corridor.
Hue, the formal imperial capital of Vietnam for hundreds of years, is home tofive heritages recognised by the UNESCO, including the ancient citadel reliccomplex- a World Cultural Heritage site, Hue royal court music- an intangiblecultural heritage item, Nguyen Dynasty’s wood blocks-a documentary heritageitem, Nguyen Dynasty’s royal administrative documents-part of the Asia-PacificRegister of UNESCO’s Memory of the World Programme, and literature on Hue royalarchitecture-a documentary heritage.
The Hue imperial citadel relic site has been ranked second among top seventourism attractions of Vietnam in 2017.-VNA
VNA
