THUA THIEN-HUE — The former royal city of Hue – a UNESCO World Heritage site – will greet its two millionth tourist this week.

The special person, based on the number of visitors recorded by the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre, will arrive to flowers and gifts and be feted for several days.

The week, to be called Hue World Heritage – A Week of Tourists, begins today.

Hosted by the Thua Thien-Hue Provincial People's Committee, the event will also celebrate the 20th anniversary of the recognition of the city by UNESCO in 1993.

In addition, the week also helps further promote the image of the attraction to both domestic and foreign tourists.

Three tourist companies who have the biggest number of tourists visiting Hue during 2012 will be honoured by the centre.

According to director of the centre, Phan Thanh Hai, the event will also target tourists who are pupils and students by offering discount or free-of-charge tickets to different attractions within the city.

To support the Week of Tourists, all the province's tourist companies and hotels will offer special discount for all services and tour packages.

The centre has offered free entrance for tourists during the Lunar New Year Festival, the provincial Liberation Day on March 26, and on the National Day on September 2.

In addition, a number of 10,000 tourists, who are pupils and teachers of schools across the province, also got the free entrance since the beginning of this year. — VNS