With the key role in tourism popularization and promotion activity, the Quang Binh Tourism Promotion and Information Center has actively partaken in the programs for regional linking cooperation, strengthened popularization programs at domestic and foreign markets with a lot of abundant and diversified activities such as Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival, VITM Hanoi, ITE Ho Chi Minh ity, BMTM Da Nang...

Besides, the unit has also connected with the North Central provinces, including Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Ha Tinh to popularize tourism destinations at some key events, aiming to introduce local unique tourism products to tourists; organized the surveys of destinations, cooperated and developed tourism with other provinces such as Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Lao Cai, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Da Nang... to spread the image of tourism destination; exchange, share and provide essential information on tourism activity between localities.

In particular, the Center in collaboration with the domestic and foreign film crews has shot the films to promote the province's tourism, introduce culture, landscapes, cave system, tourism products and unique foods of the province.

Promoting Quang Binh tourism at the international travel mart BMTM - Da Nang 2016

In addition, the unit has actively operated and upgraded the Quang Binh Tourism Portal (www.quangbinhtourism.vn) in English and Vietnamese languages, attracting hundreds of viewers each year; designed and published booklets on tourism with high quality such as Quang Binh tourism handbook, "Discovery of Quang Binh" book, Quang Binh tourism map, brochures, videos on Quang Binh tourism to serve tourism promotion activities...

In the other hand, the Center has also provided free tourism publications for the units and enterprises, coordinated with the Hanoi Department of Tourism and the Hanoi Center for Investment Promotion, Trade and Tourism to issue free tourism publications (including tourist guide, map, DVD, Phong Nha - Ke Bang brochure...) at tourist information stalls of the Noi Bai International Airport and the center of Hanoi city to serve the demand of tourists.

Besides, the Center has also strengthened tourism popularization on magazines, Quang Binh Portal, especially on Vietnam Tourism Magazine...; provided information and images for the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism to partake in exhibitions, fairs and events on tourism abroad; set up a hotline to provide more information and answer problems for tourists.

In the past time, many famous destinations of Quang Binh have been honored by the prestige organizations and magazines in the country and the world. Remarkably, Phong Nha - Ke Bang National Park was recognized as the world's natural heritage site for second time (in 2015); Nhat Le Beach was listed the top 10 best beaches in Vietnam; especially Son Doong Cave has been regularly showed on tourism websites and famous channels such as Global Grasshopper, Huffington Post, ABC Television (US). This is also the premise to attract the film crew "Kong: Skull Island" of the Legendary Pictures from Hollywood to shoot the scenes at some locations such as Da Deo Pass in Ho Chi Minh Road, Tu Lan Cave and Chuot Cave in Tan Hoa.

Recently, a group of ambassadors from seven countries of Australia, Sweden, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic and Argentina together with US Assistant Secretary of State Tom Malinowski, Ambassador Pham Sanh Chau (head of the Foreign Ministry’s Culture and UNESCO Department) and Vietnamese model-actress Duong Truong Thien Ly successfully conquered the weeklong expedition to Son Doong Cave, making a strong impression and attracting more attentions of domestic and foreign tourists, contributing to promote tourism and call upon domestic and foreign investors to Quang Binh province.

Despite such obtained results, tourism popularization and promotion have still met a lot of difficulties namely lack of expenditures for tourism promotion activities; the collaboration between all levels, agencies and enterprises with State management agencies has been connected; the resources have not been concentrated to share responsibility in tourism popularization and promotion, especially resources from travel enterprises; tourism facilities and infrastructures have been limited...

The Resolution of the Provincial Party Congress has regarded tourism as a key economic sector, "Master Plan on tourism development of Quang Binh province to 2020, vision to 2025" as a basis for development of tourism products in order to effectively exploit the great tourism potentials of the locality.

In order to achieve good results in tourism popularization and promotion in the new period, all levels, agencies and localities need to well implement the plan on promotion, popularization and expansion of tourism and services; diversify activities of tourism promotion; strengthen participation of key events, fairs and workshops on tourism in the country and the world; continuously raise quality of human resources on tourism, improve infrastructures and services, meeting the increasing demands of tourists...

In the coming time, apart from incentive policies of prices and services, tourism popularization and promotion activity should be furthered to complete the set targets; mobilize the support of the units and enterprises as well as the timely direction of all levels and agencies, contributing to spread the image of Quang Binh tourism to domestic and foreign tourists and promote itself as a safe, friendly and attractive tourist destination.

By Nhu Y
(Source: Luong Cong Thanh)