Diversifying Tourism Products

Ba Ria - Vung Tau is very well-known for its beautiful beaches like Thuy Van, Chi Linh, Bai Dua, Bai Dau and Bai Truoc in Vung Tau City; Thuy Duong in Long Hai district; Ho Tram and Ho Coc in Xuyen Moc district; Dat Doc, Bai Canh, Bai Dam Trau, Hon Cau, Hon Tre on Con Dao Island. Here, visitors can not only play with the sea but can also participate in hiking tours like climbing on Nui Lon and Nui Nho Mountains. If visitors prefer relaxing, health boosting and disease treatment, they can dip in Binh Chau hot water spring in Xuyen Moc and visit Binh Chau - Phuoc Buu natural reserve which covers nearly 12,000 ha.

 

In addition, the province has many tourist-catching scenic spots and historic relics. Vung Tau City has Lighthouse, Christ Statue, Niet Ban Tinh Xa (Peaceful Nirvana) on Tao Phung Mountain, Sakyamuni Statue on Tuong Ky Mountain, Long Son Big House, Thang Tam Communal House, etc. Ba Ria Town has Long Phuoc underground tunnel and Round House. Long Dat District has Minh Dam revolutionary base, ancient Long Phuong Communal House, Long Ban Pagoda built in the 19^th century. Notably, Con Dao District has 14 islands that form the Con Dao National Garden- a maritime ecological reserve covering almost 6,000 ha.

 

In couple with famous scenic spots, unique festivals also act as a powerful magnet for tourists. Typical festivals include Dinh Co Festival, Trung Cuu Festival (Long Son) and Fish Worshipping Festival, etc.

 

By unlocking potentials and advantages and exerting endless self-improvement effort, the tourism industry of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province has put on a new look featuring quality, uniform and more attractiveness. The province has gradually become a major resort and entertainment centre in Vietnam thanks to developed infrastructure systems and diverse tourism products. Hence, tourism revenue growth is stable year over year. Especially since 2005, the Provincial People’s Committee approved the adjustment to the tourism development master plan to 2010, with vision to 2020, to better tap local advantages for tourism development. Consequently, the tourism industry has experienced solid growth in the past years. Tourism revenues increase more than 10 percent a year on average, the volume of domestic tourist arrivals rise 7 percent a year, and the volume of international arrivals jump by 9 percent. Specifically, in 1991, tourism revenues reached VND159 billion with 1.04 million visitors but the figures topped VND1,782 billion and more than 8.4 million visitors in 2010. In the first six months of 2011, revenues climbed to nearly VND1,377 billion and the number of visitors amounted to 7 million. Tourism products are increasingly diversified, with high-grade resorts, spa services and yachting race. In couple with hosting festivals, tourism authorities of Ba Ria - Vung Tau province have actively advertised the image and reputation of local tourism to tourists far and wide.

 

The important content in the provincial tourism development direction is to raise the proportion of high-grade visitors and international tourists. The province targets at attracting more weekend holidaymakers from the Southeast region and the Mekong Delta. Besides, the tourism industry must proactively prepare conditions for the development of seaports, logistic services, and supporting industries to provide better services as foreigners come to work and live here. It will continue to strengthen and consolidate cooperation with travel agents in regional countries like Laos, Cambodia and Thailand to organise the “Four countries - one destination” campaign in a bid to attract more tourists. It will step up investment for infrastructure system on Con Dao Islands to make it a really attractive address for international tourists.

 

The entire tourism industry will continue to maintain its strategy of diversifying tourism products like resort, ecological tourism, cultural tourism, etc. Ba Ria - Vung Tau province is also developing the MICE (meetings, incentives, conferencing, exhibitions) tourism form and other supporting services to prolong the stay duration of tourists. To pick up the pace of tourism development, the province will continue reviewing and removing difficulties and obstacles and accelerate the completion of tourism projects, especially large ones.