The government has agreed to spend VND25 billion on the promotion of the tourism sector in 2009, including US$204,000 for 320 broadcasts, each lasting 30 seconds, on the BBC, said Nguyen Van Tinh, Head of International Cooperation Department under Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

He added that the promotion programme will have a total air time of 20 weeks, including eight weeks in the Asia-Pacific, six in Europe and six in America.

In addition, the ministry will buy advertising on taxis in Britain featuring a Vietnamese young girl in traditional long dress standing on the Halong Bay, a world natural heritage site.

During the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2009, and for Tet holidays in following years, VNA will strive to increase its capacity while leaving ticket fares unchanged, added General Director Minh.

This action comes as VNA is trying to overcome a crisis caused by the sudden increase in fuel prices last summer and impacts from the global financial crisis.

At the end of August, 2006, VNA had announced a loss of VND 80 billion due to the increase in fuel prices to over USD 150 per barrel of crude oil. However, its fee cut strategy and raising turnover of VND 1 trillion helped compensate for those losses, and VNA was able to overcome the crisis. VNA managed to save 25,000 tons of petrol and oil, equivalent to USD 25 million.

“At the end of 2008, VNA will reap many financial benefits,” General Director Minh stated. “VNA will share these benefits with its passengers”.

During the Lunar New Year 2009, VNA will keep the ceiling price on its fares, and will even reduce ticket fees on some flights.

Moreover, VNA will increase its capacity by 153 percent. For example, the capacity of the Ho Chi Minh City – Hanoi and the Ho Chi Minh City – Danang routes will be doubled”.

He asked the Ministry of Construction to coordinate with Kien Giang province to hire foreign experts for the implementation of infrastructure plans.

He urged relevant ministries to focus investment on constructing main roads on the island. The Phu Quoc International Airport and An Thoi sea port must be completed on schedule and more international air routes should be opened to the island, the PM said.

Regarding power supply, the PM said in the long run, the island will be connected with the power grid on the main land, but in the immediate future, the Vietnam Coal and Minerals Corporation should conduct a feasibility study for building a 100MW thermo-electric power plant to supply power to the island in next two years.

The Phu Quoc Island, having another name as Dao Ngoc (Pearl Island), for its cultured pearl, gathers great potentials to become a major tourist centre of the country.

Located in southwestern Kien Giang province, 45 km from the mainland, the 565 sq.km island owns 32,000 ha of primeval forests, beautiful and clean beaches, and undamaged coral reefs. One of its beaches, named Bai Dai (Long Beach), has been chosen by the ABC News as one of five beautiful and clean beaches, but rarely known in the world.

Director of the Quang Nam Culture, Sports and Tourism Department said the number of tourists to Quang Nam is expected to further surge in the third quarter of 2008, because the Quang Nam Sea Tourism Festival 2008 will take place from June 25 to August 31. This is a good signal for the provincial tourism sector.