Mr Nguyen Van Huong, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Lam Dong province, said: the National Tourism Year event will be organized in Lam Dong province and several other provinces in the region next year, starting from December 27 this year.

The main theme of the event is “High mountain and thick forest of Central Highlands”. The National toruism year will include 9 programmes and 17 events, 13 of which will be held in Da Lat, 4 remaining events will occur in Kon Tum, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, and Dak Nong.

Main events will include Cultural Week to celebrate Vietnam UNESCO heritage Festival which consists of embroidery products, a fashion show of Central Highlands, wooden statues Festival and international  Gong Festival. Mr Huong said Lam Dong will also hold Da lat Flower Festival to promote the provincial tourism.

A variety of sport events such as elephant race, and some folk games will be held during the year. Culinary festival will be the spotlight for National tourism year 2014. Central Highlands has been recognized as the mysterious land with most ethnic minorities whose custom and culture are interesting topics of researching for anthropologists.

This area is also home of many species of endangerd animals of Vietnam and Southeast Asia, including Indochinese tiger, gaur, Asia wild buffalo and Asia elephant. The unique natural beauty and cultural diversity make this area one of ideal places for tourism development.

Ms Hoang Thi Diep, deputy director general of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said the goal of National Tourism Year 2014 is to encourage provinces in the country to consider tourism development as the orientation of developing economy and improving quality of life for local people.

In a speech at the meeting on Friday, Mr Hoang Tuan Anh, Minister of Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the National tourism year 2014 will be a international event to introduce images, and natural beauty of Central Highlands in general and Da lat, Lam Dong in particular to domestic and foreign tourists.

The minister asked organizers of the event as well as Lam Dong province to strengthen tourism management to make Da Lat city and Lam Dong province become a safe and attractive destination in 2014 and next years.

Translated by Nguyen Quynh

Source: Dulichvn