Khanh Hoa (VNA) – The south central coastalprovince of Khanh Hoa aims to receive 5 million tourists in 2021, including 1.5million foreigners, and earn 17.5 trillion VND (760.45 million USD) fromtourism, heard a meeting held by the provincial People’s Committee withrepresentatives of more than 150 travel firms on March 10.

According to provincial leaders, Khanh Hoa will focus onexploiting the domestic and foreign markets, targeting foreign labourers,experts and diplomats residing in Vietnam.

The locality will increase communications on a “safe Vietnam,”thus introducing the safe and friendly destination of Khanh Hoa.

Alongside, the locality will design tourism stimulus programmes and organise tourism promotion events in some countries such asRussia, the Republic of Korea and China, and optimise the direct air routes to the Cam Ranh International Airport when COVID-19 is basically brought under control in theworld.

Addressing the event, Pham Minh Nhut, Vice President of theNha Trang-Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, travel firms should coordinate with accommodationfacilities, tourism sites as well as transport firms to maintain andrecover tourism product supply chains.

Meanwhile, Doan Hai Quan, Director of the Nha Trang branchof Vietravel, said that along with the formed connections with a number oflocalities such as Lam Dong and Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa should expand tourismlinkages with localities in the south central coastal, southwestern and Central Highlandsregions, thus diversifying tourism products to lure more visitors.

Nguyen Thu Phuong, Sales Director of Vinpearl, said that thefirm has prepared for the launching of a new tourism product in Hon Tre island,aiming to attract foreign tourists to Khanh Hoa.

At the meeting, Le Huu Hoang, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’sCommittee, lauded efforts made by tourism firms amid difficulties in 2020due to impacts of COVID-19.

He asked local relevant agencies and travel firms tocontinue implementing COVID-19 prevention and control measures during theiroperations.

On the occasion, the Khanh Hoa People’s Committee signed acooperation agreement with Vietnam Airlines in the 2021-2025 period.

Last year, due to impacts of COVID-19, Khanh Hoa received only 1.4 million visitors, or 19 percent of its target,including 430,000 foreigners, a drop of 88 percent over the previous year./.