TÂY NINH - Tourism has been identified as one of the key sectors for Tây Ninh Province’s socio-economic growth.

According to Nguyễn Thanh Ngọc, Chairman of Tây Ninh Province’s People's Committee, 2024 is identified as a year of acceleration and breakthroughs, with special significance in the implementation of the province's five-year socio-economic development plan (2021-2025).

In the first nine months of 2024, various sectors and agencies have completed most of their assigned tasks and proposed effective solutions to meet their growth targets.

The province has focused on solutions to improve the investment environment, overcome obstacles, and support production and business activities across various sectors.

As a result, economic activity has shown strong signs of recovery, with the Gross Regional Domestic Product (GRDP) projected to grow by 7.2 per cent in the first nine months.

The tourism sector has featured many bright spots.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Tây Ninh, the tourism sector has implemented tasks to promote tourism alongside building the province’s image in 2024.

Specifically, Tây Ninh signed a cooperation agreement with Saigontourist Group to maximise local potential and advantages.

The province has also focused on resolving difficulties with tourism projects, such as the project at the Bà Đen Mountain National Tourist Area and the project to protect and develop forests in conjunction with eco-tourism at Nhím Island in Dầu Tiếng Lake.

In the first nine months of 2024, Tây Ninh's tourism sector has been vibrant with cultural-tourism events, festivals, and cooperation programmes with other provinces and businesses, such as "Tây Ninh’s Colours", "Bình Phước and Tây Ninh – One Road, Two Destinations", the Bình Dương Famtrip with the theme "One Road, Three Destinations", the Hà Nội-Tây Ninh Famtrip, and Fam/Presstrip tours to explore and connect tourism within the province.

These programmes have allowed tourism businesses to introduce new tourism products and connect tour routes among provinces.

Statistics from the first nine months of 2024 show that tourist visits to various attractions in Tây Ninh reached around 4.5 million, a 41.7 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023, with total tourism revenue estimated at VNĐ2.4 trillion (US$96.9 million), a 7.1 per cent increase.

Tourist sites, historical areas, and accommodations have been upgrading their infrastructure and services, introducing new tourism products, and enhancing service quality to meet the needs of both locals and tourists.

It is anticipated that in the last three months of 2024, the tourism sector will continue to attract large numbers of visitors.

Building a civilised and friendly image

According to Trần Anh Minh, director of Tây Ninh’s Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, to effectively promote tourism development in 2024, the sector is focusing on tourism promotion and constantly improving service quality.

The province has also emphasised raising awareness and responsibility for building and maintaining the image, quality, and reputation of tourism services through the Code of Civilised Tourism Conduct.

This aims to create an image of Tây Ninh as a civilised and friendly destination to attract visitors.

Minh added that in the coming time, localities need to continue monitoring the business situation of tourism clusters and implement plans to enhance tourism quality and image.

At the same time, they must strictly handle any uncivilised behaviour toward tourists.

According to the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the province is finalising the Tây Ninh Province Branding Identity System, a necessary step toward standardising the province’s brand identity.

In the last three months of 2024, Tây Ninh will focus on improving the quality of cultural, artistic, and sports activities, including hosting the 2024 "Workers, Farmers, and Soldiers" public arts festival, organising 12 provincial-level sports tournaments, four regional and national tournaments, and promoting the second annual "Tây Ninh Vegetarian Cuisine Art" week.

The province will also introduce the new branding identity system for Tây Ninh and host the 2024 Trảng Bàng Dew-wetted Rice Paper Festival, as well as the 4th Provincial Congress of Ethnic Minorities. — VNS