In coming time, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) will study, develop and complete the project “Visiting battlefields and comrades” to better exploit the system of historical relics located along the country through thousands of years of national development and defence.
VNAT leaders place an emphasis on studying, assessing and exploiting historical relics during the wars against the French and American, such as Dien Bien Phu victory relic system in Dien Bien province; Vinh Moc tunnels, Quang Tri ancient citadel and Truong Son cemetery in Quang Tri province; Ho Chi Minh trail and Son My war memorial in provinces of Quang Nam and Quang Ngai; Cu Chi tunnel, War memorial museum, Thong Nhat meeting hall in Ho Chi Minh City; and Ba Den mountain and Central Committee for South Vietnam in Tay Ninh province, etc.
Tourists participating in this programme include veterans, relatives and friends of veterans and soldiers who sacrificed their lives for national independence; the youth wishing to pay tribute to their ancestors’ devotion to national defence career; peace lovers and historical researchers wishing to come to Vietnam to visit, experience and think of a war time. Most historical places connected to wars in Vietnam are still poor areas. As such, development of this type of tourism will help to eradicate hunger and eliminate poverty and improve intellectual level of the locals and cultural exchange particularly in remote areas.
This type of tourism now witnesses strong development in Tuyen Quang province (Tan Trao), Thai Nguyen province (Safety zone), Quang Binh province (Tam Co cave and Road 20), Quang Tri province (Vinh Moc tunnels, Hien Luong bridge, Truong Son cemetery, Quang Tri ancient citadel, Khe Sanh and Con Co island) and Ha Tinh province (Dong Loc T-junction) which mainly attract domestic tourists and Dien Bien Phu, Ho Chi Minh City (Cu Chi tunnels and War memorial museum), Ba Ria – Vung Tau province (Con Dao prison) and Kien Giang province (Phu Quoc prison) which are appealing to international tourists. Thanks to the arrival of tourists, the relics are invested in and get upgraded; tourism infrastructure improved and tourism service’s quality enhanced. The strong increase in the number of domestic tourists and arrival of international tourists has contributed to improving living quality of local people in places where historical heritages are located.
However, tourism and travel enterprises are not really keen on exploiting this tourism product due to the fact that the infrastructure systems at these areas are still poor, service quality being low, products being limited, human resources yet to be professional and knowledge of the relics of on-site guides still not good enough. Besides, classification of tourism market, collaboration among and development of tour programmes to churn out unique tourism products and avoid overlapping is yet to be fine.
Opportunities for Tourism Investment
The project on preferential mechanisms and policies applicable to Con Dao and investors in the island district is being finalised to be handed to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for appraisal before being submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. This is seen as an opportunity for Con Dao to attract investors, especially in the tourism sector - a driver of economic development of this "mysterious island".
According to the report by the Con Dao Tourism Site Management Board, Con Dao welcomed more than 82,000 tourists in 2012, an increase of nearly 38 per cent against 2011. Of the sum, more than 13,000 were international visitors, accounting for nearly 16 per cent of total visitor arrivals to Con Dao.
Fast growing international arrivals
|
In May 2012, Asia Book of Records named the Con Dao Prison as the “largest historic island prison system."
|
The Con Dao Tourism Site Management Board said Con Dao district’s tourism revenue grossed more than VND255 billion in 2012, up 97 per cent over 2011, of which VND129 billion came from international tourists. A visitor averagely stayed two days on the island and spent more than VND3 million. Room occupancy averaged at 63 per cent.
Ms Vo Thi Van, Deputy Director of Con Dao Tourism Site Management Board, said apart from active popularisation on domestic and international mass media, services provided by local tourism and travel companies played a key role in attracting more tourists to Con Dao.
Travel and tourism companies closely cooperate with airlines and hotel operators to offer continuous discount tickets, tour prices, room rates and services by 20 - 30 per cent.
Just three years ago, the district lacked accommodations to serve international tourists. The operation of the first5-star Six Senses Con Dao Resort with 35 rooms and 9 villas in the first phase created a breakthrough in local tourism industry. After Hollywood star couples, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, chose this place for their tour in 2011, Con Dao was increasingly attractive to tourists. The district now has 37 hotels and motels with more than 524 rooms capable of accommodating about 1,370 people. Besides, some underway projects like luxury Viet - Nga Resort (Ben Dam) and family-run hotels, expected to be operational in 2013, will provide more accommodations for tourists in Con Dao.
Open to businesses
|
According to the development plan to 2020, with a vision to 2030, Con Dao expects to serve 150,000 tourists a year, of which 54,000 are international visitors. By 2030, the island district will welcome about 250,000 - 300,000 tourists annually, of which international visitor arrivals will account for 15 per cent - 20 per cent.
|
After the Prime Minister approved the revision to the Con Dao construction master plan towards 2030 which aimed at ensuring harmonious relationship of economic development, historical and cultural conservation, forest - marine ecosystem protection, and national security and defence towards modern and sustainable development, Con Dao district brought the entire Con Dao Prison to tourism purposes. To turn Con Dao into a high-quality tourism - tourism zone, the Government permitted Ba Ria - Vung Tau province to apply preferential investment policies for investment projects on the offshore district.
According to the project on preferential mechanisms and policies applicable to Con Dao, investors in the island district will quickly have their investment and business procedures solved. They will enjoy preferential corporate income tax of10 per cent in a long duration which may last in 30 years, a 50 per cent reduction in personal income tax, and zero tax on imports and zero VAT on basic construction.
Currently, the project is being finalised and expected to be handed to the Ministry of Planning and Investment for appraisal before being submitted to the Prime Minister for approval. Besides, Con Dao district is also studying on locality zoning (Con Son, Ben Dam and Co Ong - Dam Tre areas). After the zoning procedure is completed, Con Dao will promote investment attraction in order to receive the first projects in 2014.
K.B
Vietnamese
