DA LAT (VNS) — Six million visitors came to the Central Highlands this year, National Tourism Year organisers have announced at a ceremony in Da Lat.

Tourism promotion programmes brought both foreign and domestic tourists, giving the locality the chance to turn tourism into a key economic sector, minister of culture, sports and tourism Hoang Tuan Anh said on Saturday at the ceremony, which also featured an art show called "Love for the Central Highlands".

During the year, the culture ministry and the local authorities organised more than 70 culture, sport and tourism programmes in the provinces of Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Dak Nong and Lam Dong, where Da Lat is located. The programmes spotlighted traditional instruments, folk singing, costumes, gongs, elephant racing and Lam Dong tea.

Next year's tours emphasise nature, including forest- and sea-exploring tours and flower admiring excursions.

The number of visitors to the area rose 14 per cent from last year. They included 400,000 foreigners, a 7 per cent increase. Total income from tourism reached VND10 billion (US$4.7 million), a 12 per cent up from last year.

Da Lat, which hosted most of the programmes, gathered 4.8 million visitors, 14.4 per cent more than last year.

At the ceremony, organisers handed the hosting flag to representatives of the central province of Thanh Hoa, which will host next year's tourism programmes focusing on connecting heritage sites. — VNS