TÂY NINH - Tây Ninh Province is focusing on policies to improve its tourism for the last months of 2024, after the industry has seen many positive achievements since the start of the year.

In the first eight months of 2024, Tây Ninh ranked first in terms of economic growth in the southeastern region, and tourism played a big role in this.

During this period, the number of tourists visiting the province reached 3.9 million, up 3.6 per cent year-on-year, while tourism revenue was over VNĐ2.1 trillion, up 37.3 per cent.

August alone also saw great spikes in tourists and revenue compared to last year.

During the National Day holiday (September 2), it welcomed over 115,000 tourists, an increase of 10 per cent year-on-year, with many destinations recording a high number of visitors such as Bà Đen Mountain National Tourism Site, Cao Đài Cathedral and the Central Office for South Việt Nam Base relic site – a Special National Historical Site.

The Bà Đen Mountain site organised art and musical performances every day during the four-day holiday, leaving a positive impression on many tourists.

Tây Ninh has identified tourism as one of its most important industries for the province’s socio-economic development, so it receives a great deal of investment and attention from its authorities.

Many of its tourism sites and their services have been upgraded, allowing them to attract more visitors and sell more craft goods, souvenirs and local dishes.

It has been strengthening co-operation for tourism development with six other southeastern provinces as well as HCM City’s Saigontourist Group, providing the province ample opportunities to promote its tourism strengths such as river tourism, traditional craft villages and entertainment venues.

On September 6 and 7, Tây Ninh organised a tour for members of tourism associations, agencies and tourism companies around Việt Nam, introducing local cuisine, historical and tourism sites.

It has also been carrying out tourism facilitation activities with Cambodian and South Korean localities, and promoting its tourism products on international travel magazines and online platforms.

Goals for remaining months

For the last few months of the year, the province will continue to focus on attracting tourists and enhancing the quality of its products to make use of local strengths.

It will turn tourism into a spearhead industry for the province by 2030.

Trần Anh Minh, director of the province’s Department of Culture, Sport and Tourism, said that Tây Ninh has established a working group to implement solutions to foster the province’s socio-economic development, and it is tasked with advising on policies to develop the province’s tourism.

Its Tây Ninh Tourism Association with nearly 100 members is also in charge of working with relevant units to organise tourism facilitation and promotion events, as well as to improve local tourism quality.

He said that the province is developing more of its historical and cultural sites, focusing on locations that are drawing in a sizable number of visitors, in addition to improving the quality of its unique festivals, such as one featuring Trảng Bàng dew-wetted rice paper and local vegetarian dishes.

Tây Ninh is raising awareness among businesses and locals of the importance of improving their tourism image and service quality to ensure civil and friendly behaviour and build the province’s tourism brand, he added.

To prepare for the 50th anniversary of the Southern Liberation and National Reunification Day in 2025, Tây Ninh is also renovating its Central Office for the South Việt Nam Base relic site and working on visitor tours with modern technology.