Can Tho readies for turn in national tourism spotlight
28/12/07 (GMT+7)
Can Tho Vietnam is speeding up the process of upgrading tourism facilities and services with the National Tourism Year 2008 festivities to be held in the city only three months away, said an official.
Construction of infrastructure facilities on Cai Khe Island, which will host the opening ceremony, is expected to be completed in January, said Dinh Viet Khanh, director of the Can Tho City Department of Tourism.
The city has upgraded hotels and built new ones, raising its number of hotels to 126 with more than 3,132 rooms.
Khanh said the city's tourist companies have increased activities to promote tourism, including improving their tourism services and tourist sites and offering more diverse tours.
Pham Phuoc Nhu, deputy head of the Can Tho People's Committee and head of the organisation board of National Tourism Year 2008, said the board is raising VND20bil (US$1.25mil) from company donors to organise the programme.
The programme will cost VND30bil ($1.88mil). Of that figure, VND10bil ($625,000) will come from the city's budget.
National Tourism Year 2008 will promote tourism in Can Tho and Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta provinces, focusing on activities in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta countryside, Khanh said.
The programme will spotlight Can Tho with the theme Mekong River Countryside, featuring Images of local people, festivals and culture in the city and the Cuu Long delta region.
The city expected to receive 15,000-20,000 local and foreign tourists at the opening ceremony on February 21, he said.
More than 1,000 artists and several arts groups from neighbouring countries, including China, Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, will participate at the ceremony.
Khanh said Can Tho will hold 24 major events during the year, including an event to open the Can Tho International Airport, an ethnic Khmer culture festival and a celebration of the 5th anniversary of Can Tho's central city status.
(Source: Viet Nam News)
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