Le Xuan Than, Vice President of Khanh Hoa Provincial People’s Committee and head of organising board, said this year’s Sea Festival was an opportunity for Khanh Hoa Province and Nha Trang City to spotlight the economic, cultural and tourism potential to local and foreign visitors.

The fourth annual seven-day festival features over 6 cultural and artistic events plus sporting and tourist activities, workshops and exhibitions along the beach and at the popular Ponagar Tower.

The festival will also set several new records for Vietnam, including the largest pot of pho (noodles), for more than 600 people, and the largest traditional orchestra, comprising 150 musicians.

Miss World 2004 Maria Julia Mantilla, Miss World 2006 Tatana Kuchrova and Miss Vietnam 2006 Mai Phuong Thuy will also join the Carnival along Tran Phu Street on June 9.

Tourists visiting the festival can take part in many community activities, like helping to paint the world’s longest oil painting, about environmental protection, along Tran Phu Street, and the Fishing Harvest Festival at 2/4 Square on June 10.

Local residents and tourists can enjoy an international musical performance entitled Nong Len Ngon Lua Am Nhac (Burning the Fire of Music) on 2/4 Square on June 11 or watch it live on VTV3. The event has attracted singers and musicians from six overseas countries.

Nguyen Van Tinh, Director General of the Department of International Cooperation under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said that talks between the two sides had been finalized, and US$250,000 would be spent on this two-month publicity program.

The second publicity for Vietnam’s tourism on CNN’s Asian coverage, including Japan, will promote the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, plus other major attractions of the country, similar to the first program in late 2007.

“We’ve finished the discussion about the cost and the content for the program and are waiting for approval on the budget from the Ministry of Finance,” he said, adding the agreement would be signed in September.

“The two sides can ink the deal in this September if the ministry agrees on the budget,” Tinh said.

In late 2007, the country’s tourism image was advertised every day on CNN for the first time. The 30-second spot mainly promoted the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, plus other major attractions of the country such as the ancient town of Hoi An, HCMC, and the former capital city of Thua Thien-Hue. The program costs US$290,000 covered by the State Budget.

Tinh said Department of International Cooperation was also discussing similar programs for the country’s tourism on other international networks. The department will also cooperate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to promote Vietnam in the U.S. on the occasion of the Vietnam Day in California in the fourth quarter of this year.

This year, Vietnam’s tourism will have a budget of around VND50 billion or nearly US$3 million to carry out activities to promote the country’s tourism. Half of the budget comes from the National Action Program on Tourism, and the balance from the Investment, Trade, Tourism Promotion Fund of the Government.

Previously, in May 2009, Mui Ca Mau and Cu Lao Cham Islands in Vietnam received an overwhelming vote in favour at the 21st session of the International Coordinating Council of the UNESCO and the Biosphere Programme held in the Republic of Korea.

Cu Lao Cham Islands, covering 40,000ha, are regarded as the only biosphere reserve in the world linking nature and urban space.

After the ceremony, Vietnamese and Japanese art troupes gave an art performance putting an end to the 7th Vietnam-Japan Cultural Exchange Days Festival.

Of the total number of foreign holidaymakers to Vietnam in September, up to 37,200 were from China; an increase of 3% against the same period last year, and 30,100 came from the RoK.

The number of US tourists saw the largest rise of 36% in the reviewed period, reaching 35,400, reported the General Statistics Office (GSO).

However, the total number of foreign tourists in the first nine months of this year dropped by 16% from the same period last year to 2.7 million.

According to major domestic travel firms, the global economic crisis and the outbreaks of A/H1N1 influenza are the main factors behind decreases in foreign tourism.

To foster its recovery, the tourism industry is stepping up efforts to develop its infrastructure, revise local tourism planning schemes, increase promotional programmes abroad and strengthen international cooperation in the field.

Most noteworthy is the “Impressive Vietnam” promotional campaign which has been introduced at the country’s key tourist sites. It has draw the participation of 90 travel companies, 120 highly-ranked hotels and resorts, 3 transport firms and 20 major restaurants and shopping centres nationwide.

As part of the programme, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) proposed that relevant ministries and agencies exempt foreigners from visa fees slash the Value Added Tax by 50% and re-schedule tax payments for tourist enterprises.

The national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines has announced its largest-ever discount of 60-70% on all domestic and international flights for travel companies participating in the campaign from October 1 to December 31 in a move to stimulate demand.

However, Vu The Binh from the Department of Travel under VNAT said tourism companies need to work more closely together to improve the quality of services and create new products along with reducing prices.