Meaningful cultural activities will contribute to promoting and introducing Binh Duong province

A number of major cultural and tourism events will be held at the end of this year, such as "Street Food Festival" and "Tourism Seminar - improving competitiveness, turning towards sustainable development". Binh Duong Newspaper interviewed Nguyen Khoa Hai, Director of provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism (DCST).

- Sir, DCST is implementing the organization plan of "Street Food Festival" in Binh Duong province for the first time in 2018. Could you please tell us the size and meaning of this activity?

- The 1^st "Street Food Festival" in Binh Duong province 2018 hosted by DCST with the theme "Delicious weekend dishes" is to develop new and attractive tourist products to serve tourists inside and outside the province; At the same time, introduce and promote cultural values, diverse and unique features of Binh Duong cuisine, build a healthy and useful playground, create a cultural space, entertainment space for people and visitors. This will be also an opportunity for businesses and individuals in tourism, catering and service sectors; handicraft products to meet and exchange, to introduce images and tourism products, thereby contributing to promoting and introducing Binh Duong tourist destinations.

Bach Dang Flower Garden - where the 1st "Street Food Festival" in 2018 will take place.

"Street Food Festival" 2018 will take place in Bach Dang Flower Garden, Phu Cuong ward, Thu Dau Mot city more than 40 stalls. In two days of the festival, we will have the opportunity to participate in various activities such as: Enjoying delicious dishes at food stalls; visit and shop at booths of local traditional handicraft products; be counseled and introduced to attractive and discounted tours at booths of travel companies; participating in street art events; judge and award prizes to "Beautiful booth" contest...

- The seminar "Binh Duong Tourism - Enhancing competitiveness, turning towards sustainable development" will focus on which issues, sir?

- Binh Duong does not have geographical advantages for tourism development. However, Binh Duong has relatively diversified tourism resources with various types of tourism that have been exploited, such as weekend vacation tourism, religious tourism, traditional handicraft villages, ecotourism, high-class sports tourism... Although there is diversity in tourism resources, Binh Duong has not really got outstanding and distinctive resources to deeply impress tourists compared with other localities in the country.

To implement the Politburo’s Resolution No. 08-NQ/TW dated 16 Jan 2017 on tourism development as a key economic sector; In order to gradually improve the competitiveness, stimulate tourism industry in the coming time, DCST advised provincial People's Committee to invite General Department of Tourism to co-chair conference "Binh Duong Tourism - Enhancing competitiveness, turning towards sustainable development” on 27 Dec. The workshop will have the participation of over 200 delegates, who are scientists, managers, businesses of tourism industry in and outside the province.

The workshop focused on discussing, analyzing and evaluating the current situation and potential, limitations of Binh Duong tourism, then make the most feasible solutions, orientations and solutions to make good use of our advantages and potential in the coming time; solutions to promote tourism products and heighten the quality of tourism services; linking - connecting tourism activities of Binh Duong with other provinces and cities in the South East - South West region to bring tourists to Binh Duong, thereby contributing to promoting the values ​​of cultural and historical monuments and handicraft villages in tourism activities; introduce and popularize the image, land and people of Binh Duong to visitors; create good conditions for Binh Duong tourism industry to improve competitiveness, turn towards sustainable development in the coming time. The workshop will be also a forum for exchanging and sharing useful information between managers, tourism businesses and leading experts in tourism industry throughout the country to come up with the most effective solutions for tourism of Binh Duong province in particular and of the region in general to develop.

Based on opinions of tourism managers, researchers, experts and businesses at the seminar, DCST will collaborate with related industries to study the most feasible solutions, proposals are contributed at the workshop to advise Provincial People's Committee, step by step implement, develop tourism into an important economic sector of the province in the coming time.

- Sir, on Lunar New Year 2019, Binh Duong will organize firework show welcoming the new year on New Year Eve, would you please give more details about locations?

- On Lunar New Year's Eve 2019, Binh Duong will organize a firework show at 9 locations at 9 districts, towns and city in the province: Binh Duong New City center; Green Square in Di An ward, Di An town; Arecco residential area, Nguyen Trai street, Lai Thieu ward, Thuan An town; Quarter 3, Uyen Hung ward, Tan Uyen town; Quarter 2, My Phuoc ward, Ben Cat town; Hamlet 2, Tan Thanh commune, North Tan Uyen district; Quarter 4, Dau Tieng town, Dau Tieng district; Quarter 2, Phuoc Vinh town, Phu Giao district, and Bau Bang district Administrative Center.

- Thank you Sir!

Reported by Quynh Nhu – Translated by Ngoc Huynh