Especially, in the 2011-2015 period, tourism sector has gained many opportunities and advantages to reap many important achievements, gradually affirming its position as an outstanding destinations in the country and the world.

Ambassadors in excursion to conquer Son Doong cave - the world's largest cave

With the great potentials and advantages in natural resources, tourism sector has focused on developing new tourist products to serve tourists, bringing a high effectiveness such as Chay River - Dark Cave, En Cave, Sinh Ton Valley - Thuy Cung Cave, Thien Duong Cave, Tu Lan Cave system - Tien Cave... The "Conquering Son Doong - the world's largest cave" tour has attracted millions of visitors around the world, making Son Doong Cave to become an attractive destination and a highlight of Quang Binh tourism as well as Vietnam's tourism.

The construction investment and recognition of sea tourism sites such as Bao Ninh, Nhat Le - Quang Phu for serving tourists has gradually affirmed the position of sea tourism of the locality. Besides, spiritual tourism has attracted a large number of visitors, including Lieu Hanh Princess Temple, Than Dinh mountain, Tam Co Cave.... especially the resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap in Vung Chua - Yen Island.

Defining development of new tourist products to attract tourists as an important issue, the tourism industry has organized many conferences to popularize and promote local tourism in provinces and cities; actively partook in some annual events on tourism in the country and the world; spread image of local tourism on the media, internet, tourist book, map, DVD and announced logo of Quang Binh tourism...

Therefore, work of serving tourists towards professionalization has become a key target of Quang Binh tourism industry with a focus on collaboration with related agencies, units and localities to improve quality of tourist services, ensuring a safe, clean and friendly tourism environment; and opening of training courses to improve professional knowledge and skills for tourist staff...

The resting place of General Vo Nguyen Giap in Vung Chua, Quang Dong commune, Quang Trach district becomes a spiritual tourism site for tourists across the country

Besides, technical infrastructure on tourism has been developed synchronously and expanded in both scale and quality. Up to now, the province has 287 accommodation establishments and 31 travel companies, of which there are 04 international trave companies and 27 domestic travel companies. The province has more than 3,000 restaurants and tourist stalls, of which 16 restaurants meet the standards for serving tourists.

According to the report of the Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, in the 2011-2015, number of tourists to Quang Binh achieved nearly 9.2 million, an average growth rate reached over 37%, of which Quang Binh first welcomed over 1 million tourists in 2012, more than 2.7 million in 2014 and nearly 3 million in 2015. Total revenues from tourism in five years reached VND9,840 billion, an average growth reached 54%, making an important contribution to raise the density of service to 50.2% in GRDP.

"Va Cave, Nuoc Nut Cave - different experiences" tour officially put into operation

Apart from infrastructure construction and improvement of services for tourism development, work of tourism popularization and promotion has been paid attention. Remarkably, tourism industry of Quang Binh has been highly evaluated by domestic and foreign newspapers and maganizes. Especially, The New York Times Travel (US) listed Son Doong cave at 8th position among the "52 Places to Go in 2014" and the top among 12 destinations in Asia.; the Lonely Planet published a tourist guide book in 2014, which spent six pages in praise of beauty of Phong Nha - Ke Bang and Quang Binh; Son Doong was named an “unbelievably beautiful destination on earth” by The News Magazine of Australia and one of 12 most spectacular caves in the world by the Business Insider Travel Magazine of the United States. In 2015 alone, Son Doong Cave was named among he world’s top 27 amazing natural wonders in Asia by The Smarter Travel of the US; the US Smithsonian Scientific Magazine ranked Son Doong Cave at the top of 25 great new places to see in the 21st century; Son Doong Cave and En Cave were broadcast live in the Good Morning America of the ABC, making a strong impression to Quang Binh tourism in particular and Vietnam tourism in general, becomming a typical event of Vietnam tourism in 2015. In addition, Son Doong Cave was selected as a highlight in Vietnam's tourism popularization and promotion program in Singapore, Indonesia...

In the forthcoming time, with the great potentials of available resources, a sound development orientations and preferential policies as well as tourism popularization and promotion towards professionalization, it is believed that Quang Binh tourism industry will become a driving force to promote the province's economic development, aiming to eleminate hunger and reduce poverty, bring practical benefits for local people and spread image of Quang Binh tourism as a safe, attractive and friendly destination to domestic and foreign tourists.

By Nhu Y
(Source: Quang Binh Portal)