In difficult time of tourism, some organizers launch “Ho Chi Minh City; 100 attractions” for local and foreign organizations and tourists in order to promote tourism.
Large-scale participation
“Ho Chi Minh City: 100 attractions” is officially started in late August and continues till the end of 2009 for local and foreign tourists to elect the most attractive tourist products. The programme consists of four stages: Setting criteria for 100 attractions; promotion and election; announcement and awarding; promotion of products at home and abroad. The programme encourages the public to discover cultural value and tourist products and businesses to upgrade quality of accommodation, services, transport, shopping areas and tourist sites so as to increase competitive advantage against other localities and countries in the region.
The participations will elect 100 out of 150 candidates by network of newspapers, hotels and recreation centres. Foreign tourists will choose 10 hotels, 10 restaurants, 10 shopping areas, etc. While local tourists will choose 10 tourist sites, 10 tourist tours, 10 spas, etc. Accordingly, tourists can themselves experience and discover destinations and tours they like most. The jury set up by Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee will rely on the results to name Top Ten of each area and promote them to tourists.
An attempt of international standard
According to Mr La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Head of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, it is difficult for Ho Chi Minh City to attain the objectives set for 2009. The programme is an experiment and also an ambition to make it a promotion of international standard.
The total spending of VND2.7 billion is from promotion resources and part of the city budget. It will be promoted by 50 television stations in the city and Tan Son Nhat airport, by posters, folders, websites, booklets, DVD and especially USB. Some 2,000 USB of 4gb each will be sent to thousands of international travel agencies of major markets in the world.
Such information will also be forwarded to 150 travel agencies attending International Tourist Exhibition held in Ho Chi Minh City in late September (ITE-HCMC 2009).
Vietnam Airlines (VNA) will promote the programme in their international flights.
According to Ms. Ton Nu Thi Ninh, former Vice-Chair of External Committee of National Assembly and member of the Jury, the programme is not only a breakthrough but also public education, especially schools, to protect tourism environment.
Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism together with Tourist Association of Ho Chi Minh City will prepare the programme and the City People’s Committee will sponsor and announce the result of the election by the end of 2009.
Thu Huyen
Vietnamese
