Da Lat Flower Festival 2012: Great Opportunity to Attract Tourists

Da Lat Flower Festival 2012 is scheduled to open from December 30, 2011 to January 3, 2012. This is an economic, cultural and tourism event of national class and international nature that the Prime Minister decided to be held biennially to honour the value of Da Lat flowers, substantiate the position and potentiality of “flowers and floriculture” in the social and economic development strategies of Da Lat City in particular and Lam Dong Province in general. Reporter Thu Huyen has an interview with Mr Vu Van Tu, Deputy Director of Lam Dong Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre, on preparatory works for the organisation of the festival.

 

Could you please talk major contents of the Da Lat Flower Festival 2012?

The festival programme has been approved by the provincial governing People’s Committee and its contents have been allocated to competent departments for implementation. The overarching theme of this year’s event is still flowers. The event consists of eighteen sub-programmes, including nine principal ones: Flower space; international flower exhibition; street flower parade; festival opening eve; flower market - food and flower festival; “flower and light” street fair; Beautiful flower space; wine evening show; and flower conference. Apart from the opening programme, the province will host events with contents focusing on restitution, redecoration, investment and display of Da Lat’s characteristic flowers. For instance, Mai Anh Dao fair will be held in a separate street in the aim of introducing to visitors to the characteristic flower of Mai Anh Dao - a hybridised genus of peach and apricot.

 

In addition, the province will embellish urban areas and tree lines along the National Road 20 from Dao Oai to Duy Linh and Bao Loc and adorn the National Road from Lien Khuong to Da Lat to create a flower space for the upcoming festival.

 

In addition to general potentials like climate, natural scenery, historical relics and century-old culture, Da Lat in particular Lam Dong province in general will introduce very typically local products which are not available in other places like tours in combination with high-tech agriculture. Apart from beautiful natural landscapes, visitors will have the chance to explore cultural, spiritual and material life of local people as well as try specialty foods like La Ba banana, dried persimmon, Da Lat plums and O Long tea. In addition to enjoying open space and cool climate, they can visit flower gardens and play sports like golf. Some ancient cultural values of Da Lat, including century-old villas which are being restored and preserved, will be put to use on this occasion.

 

Currently, Da Lat has two architectures recognised typical architectural works of the 20^th century by the World Architecture Organisation: Da Lat College and Da Lat Railway Station. The former is rated one of 1,000 most beautiful architectures of the 20th century in the world. In addition to architectural value, the work has cultural values and restoration and utilisation of these values are very important for tourism development. With important cultural values, craft villages play a significant role in expanding tourism.

 

Adventure tourism has been present in Da lat for more than 10 years but the outcome is still incommensurate with the potential due to low demand. Foreign visitors are keen on this form of activity while domestic tourists remain unfamiliar. Adventure tourism is primarily based on nature like mountain climbing and waterfall crossing. Apart from popularisation of this activity, tour operators must ensure absolute safety for participants, even basic training.

 

At present, the province has worked with travel associations and companies to launch programmes and activities in response to the festival whereas the quality of tourism services is of top concerns. Lam Dong province will also host open programmes for enterprises to take part in.