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The file photo shows tourists arriving at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang . — Photo dangcongsan
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DA NANG (Biz Hub) — The EU-funded Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development (ESRT) programme in three central coastal provinces held discussions on destination management at a workshop in Da Nang on Wednesday.
Addressing the opening session, ESRT Programme's international expert Robert Travers presented findings from his mission that showed the strengths, weaknesses and problems that need to be resolved and the opportunities for each province.
He then pointed out several fields for cooperation in term of destination management, marketing and training in the region.
The workshop was organised as a follow-up to a mission from May to June 17 in the provinces by Travers.
Earlier, the leaders of the three provinces on February 27 signed a memorandum to cooperate on tourism management.
Attending the workshop were 70 representatives from government and business, including the Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the leaders of Viet Nam Tourism Association and Viet Nam Society of Travel Agents, and key tourism businesses in Quang Nam, Da Nang and Thua Thien – Hue.
Representatives of Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism's Hotel and Travel departments and the Institute for Tourism Development Research were also on hand to take part.
Mary McKeon, ESRT's Team Leader, explained the concepts of destination management, and the benefits that a Destination Management Organisation can bring. based on successful international models.
The outcomes from the participants' discussions will be used to develop a draft strategy for destination management.
Speaking at the workshop, Truong Nam Thang, ESRT's expert, said: "Tourism has been developing rapidly in the central coastal provinces of Viet Nam for the past decade. The objective of the ESRT programme is to support local authorities and stakeholders in planning and managing the changing process responsibly."
In 2014, the ESRT Programme is also conducting many activities to support the provinces, including a visitor survey; research on tourism products in the region to develop responsible tourism products; and tourism brand development and destination marketing.
It will also strengthen and promote Public - Private Partnerships and tourism human resources development.
The ESRT Programme is the biggest tourism technical support programme in Viet Nam, designed to promote sustainable tourism that will also enhance competitiveness and contributed to the country's socio-economic development plan.
It is funded by the European Union with 11 million euros and the Vietnamese Government contributes 1.1 million euro. Implementation is from 2011 to 2015. — VNS