In April 2004, the Vietnam Tourism Administration joined forces with the Quang Nam province People’s Committee to kick off a tourism development project, drawing the participation of representatives from 18 provinces and cities in the central provinces. However, no positive changes have been seen; each province has kept to its own ways without any association with others in the region.

Touching upon the holiday destinations in the central region, it sounds like a big mistake if we do not mention “The Way of World’s Heritages”, linking all the most well-known heritages such as Phong Nha, Hue, Hoi An and My Son and other attractions from Nghe An to Da Lat. “The Way of World’s Heritages” runs along the central coastal line and expands to the East-West corridor linking Vietnam with Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Cu Lao Cham, a hot attraction for international visitors.

“This project aims to boost community services, the solid groundwork for sustainable tourist development, so that all provinces in central Vietnam will closely associate to turn the region into an ideal destination for international visitors”, said Mr Paul Stoll, former General President of Furama Resort and General Secretary of “The Way of World’s Heritages” project.

According to Mr Paul Stoll, central Vietnam boasts a rich culture, profound history, diversified and splendid landscapes, all of which are necessary to lure travelers from every corner of the world. Therefore, the project’s realisation will help promote other destinations and boost up the socio-economic development of the region.

Where is the project going?

Many tourism managers and enterprises regard “The Way of the World’s heritages” project as an ideal way to connect central provinces with attractive destinations. However, the project, after a series of meetings and debates, remains on paper without any signs of life.

The Vietnam Tourism Administration seems to be paying very little attention to this project. As a result, central provinces have failed to reach a common agreement in outlining the roadmap and concrete measures. Investors are also losing interest in promoting the tourism campaign. The project is, therefore, on the shelf.

According to Mr. Vo Phi Hung, Director of the Thua Thien Hue Department of Tourism, the most urgent task is to find a “conductor” who will coordinate all the tourism activities and link central provinces as a whole for the common benefit. “If we can realise this project and put it into smooth operation, the number of visitors will increase sharply, not only at a modest figure of 2.5 million arrivals as expected by the Vietnam Tourism Administration”, Mr Hung said.

Each province with its own way…

Tourism managers in Da Nang, Quang Nam and Thua Thien Hue have many times met to discuss the best way for regional tourism development. But all promises and commitments have been left in the meeting rooms. Each city and province has always come back to its own track to lure visitors.

In late March 2005, each of the three launched independent tourism and cultural events at the same time namely “Lang Co – legend of the sea” in Thua Thien Hue, “Da Nang – the destination for cultural and tourism festivals”, and “Hoi An, the Vietnam-Japan Culture Week” in Quang Nam. The tourism authorities of provinces did not advertise their own festivals at the festivals of other provinces.

As a result, travelers attending the festival in Da Nang had no information or even awareness about other exciting festivals taking place at the same time in neighbouring provinces and vice versa.

“One of the most important targets for our 2006 National Tourism Year is to link all central provinces to make the best use of holiday destinations in the region”, said Ms. Ho Thi Thanh Lam, Vice Chairwomen of the Quang Nam People’s Committee, at a press conference earlier this year.

Yet, the year is drawing to the end. A series of tourism and cultural events have taken place this year but no promising signals and radical changes have been seen so far.

When is the tourism cooperation to be set up?

“If all localities shake hands for mutual benefits from tourism project development, the earnings will be equally shared among all provinces and it will surely activate the domestic hospitality industry”, said Mr. Tran Minh Ca, Vice Chairman of Quang Nam People’s Committee, adding that the most urgent task was to reach a consensus among the localities.

Visitors from Thailand visiting Hue Citadel.

According to Mr. Dinh Hai, Director of Quang Nam Department of Tourism, cultural and tourism festivals co-organised by those provinces would reduce organising costs as well as bring the panoramic view of the tourism potential in the region to visitors more rapidly.

Mr. Hai also added that the Vietnam Tourism Administration would act as the coordinator linking all provinces with tourism potentials and attracting more investors into those localities.

However, initial efforts need to come from the provinces themselves, an idea sounded by Mr. Ngo Quang Vinh, Director of the Da Nang Department of Tourism:

“We need strong determination and specific actions rather than commitments and promises at meetings".