Addressing the ceremony, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan underlined the role of tourism in local socio-economic development. She said the Politburo aims to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector by 2020, receive up to 20 million foreign visitors and 82 million domestic visitors, and contribute more than 10% of the GDP. Ms. Ngan added that the National Tourism Year event should promote national heritages and other distinctive tourism products of Vietnam. She said: “I hope that via the National Tourism Year 2018 events, Vietnam’s tourism industry will make significant steps forward. Quang Ninh province’s success in attracting investment in infrastructure and tourism services is a precious experience for other localities to study. Quang Ninh has had initial successes in tourism sustainability, which provides momentum for provincial growth.”

During the National Tourism Year 2018, 100 events will be held nationwide, including 50 in Quang Ninh.