Tourism Year 2011 kicked off in Phú Yên
VGP – The National Tourism Year 2011, themed “Exotic Beaches and Islands”, was kicked off on Friday evening in the central coastal province of Phú Yên.
An art performance at the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2011, Phú Yên, April 1, 2011 – Photo: VGP
The event, with various activities, will also take place in other central provinces of Quảng Nam, Quảng Ngãi, Bình Định, Khánh Hòa, Ninh Thuận, Bình Thuận and Đà Nẵng City.
Việt Nam has vast potential for the development of different types of marine tourism as the country has a coast line of 3,200 km and thousands of islands rich in biodiversity.
Meanwhile, the central coastal region is endowed with exotic beaches and islands and specific cultural heritages.
The Tourism Year 2011 is designed to accelerate investment in tourism development, thus attract more tourists to this region.
Việt Nam also approved a strategy on marine economic development with an aim to increase the marine sector’s contribution to the GDP to over 50%.
Following are activities for the National Tourism Year 2011:
Activities directed by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MOCST) or coordinated with other agencies
| No. | Activities | Time | Place | Presiding Agency |
| 1 | International Mountaineering Prize for conquering Đá Bia Mountain | March 26-27 | Đá Bia Mount, Phú Yên | Việt Nam National Administration of Exercise and Sports |
| 2 | Cultural exchange between Việt Nam, the Republic of Korea and some other countries | April | Phú Yên Province | nternational Cooperation Department |
| 3 | Opening Ceremony of “The special month for sea and island tourism” | April | Phú Yên Province | Việt Nam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) |
| 4 | International scientific conference: "South Central Cultural Heritage and tourism development in international integration" | April | Phú Yên Province | Việt Nam Culture and Art Institute |
| 5 | ASEAN traditional music Festival | June | Phú Yên Province | Art Performance Department |
| 6 | National tournament of beach football and the national Vovinam championship | June (on Tết Đoan Ngọ, the 5th day of the fifth lunar month) | Tuy Hòa City, Phú Yên Province | Việt Nam National Administration of Exercise and Sports |
| 7 | Culture - Sports - Tourism Festival of Việt Nam’s ethnic groups in the central and highland provinces | July | Phú Yên Province | Basic Culture Department |
| 8 | Contest of Miss Tourism in the South Central Coastal provinces | July | Phú Yên Province | VNAT |
| 9 | Food Festival with typical foods from North, Central and South provinces | July | Phú Yên Province | VNAT |
| 10 | National Performing Arts Festival | July | Phú Yên Province | Art Performance Department |
| 11 | National Seminar: "Việt Nam's sea and island tourism - opportunities and challenges" | July | Phú Yên Province | MOCST’s Office in Đà Nẵng City |
| 12 | ASEAN Choir Games | From August 28 to September 042011 | Tuy Hòa City, Phú Yên Province and Nha Trang City, Khánh Hòa Province | International Cooperation Department |
| 13 | The 17th Việt Nam Film Festival – 2011 | November | Phú Yên Province | Cinema Department |
Activities presided over by Phu Yen Province
| No. | Activities | Time | Place | Presiding Agency |
| 1 | Hand-over ceremony of the rotary flag of "National Tourism Year" organizing between Hà Nội City and Phú Yên Province | At the end of December 2010, on the occasion of the National Tourism Year 2010’s closing ceremony | Hà Nội City | People’s Committee of Hà Nội and Phú Yên Province |
| 2 | Nhạn Mountain Nguyên Tiêu Poetry Festival | February 17, 18 (the 14th and 15th days of the first lunar month) | Nhạn Mountain – Tuy Hòa City | People’s Committee of Phú Yên Province |
| 3 | Meeting for the 400th anniversary of Phú Yên Province’ establishment and the opening ceremony of the National Tourism Year 2011 | April 1, 2011 | 1/4 Square, Tuy Hòa City | People’s Committee of Phú Yên Province, MOCST |
| 4 | 400 years of formation and development (1611-2011) of Phú Yên Exhibition-Fair | At the end of March and beginning of April 2011 | Tuy Hòa City | People’s Committee of Phú Yên Province, Ministry of Industry and Trade |
| 5 | Welcome ceremony of the certificate of national landscape vestige for Xuân Đài Bay. | April (associated with The special month for sea and island tourism) | Xuân Đài Bay, Sông Cầu Town | People’s Committee of Sông Cầu Town |
| 6 | Closing ceremony of National Tourism Year 2011 and Hand-over ceremony of the rotary flag for organizing board of National Tourism Year 2012 | At the end of December 2011 | Tuy Hòa City | People’s Committee of Phú Yên Province |
In addition, the central provinces also will hold many diverse activities on the occasion of the Visit Việt Nam Year – Phú Yên 2011 such as: Đà Nẵng International Firework Festival; The First International Choir Festival; Quảng Ngãi Beauty Contest; Quảng Ngãi Island and Sea Culture Festival; National Festival of folk songs and bài chòi (singing while playing cards); The Fifth Nha Trang Sea Festival - 2011; Việt Nam Sea Villages Festival; Mũi Né- Bình Thuận International Kite water-skiing and Windsurfing Prize; Bình Thuận Tourism Festival; Kate Festival.
By Hải Minh
