On 20 February 2016 in Nghe An, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST), Nghe An authority and BIDV co-organised a conference on tourism development cooperation in the North and South Central regions to evaluate the existing tourism situation of this area, and to assess the potential and make proposals for future development.

​Featuring nearly 1,800 kilometres of coastline, the North and South Central regions are seen as the face of the East Sea of ​​Vietnam and countries in the Indochinese peninsula, and northeastern Thailand. These two regions play an important role in the country’s tourism development map. The area has nine airports, including three international ones, accounting for 42 percent of the total number in Vietnam.

The North and South Central regions offer great biological diversity, boasting world heritage natural sites, huge underground cave systems and cultural sites unique to the area.

A representative of the MCST commented that the potential of the North and South Central regions has yet to be fully tapped. “We want to focus on promoting close and effective links amongst localities in the regions, creating a consistent sea tourism brand for both regions and boosting tourism development”, he said.

To link and develop tourism in the region during the 2016 -2020 period, Mr. Tran Bac Ha, BIDV Chairman made some recommendations.

Firstly, a change of mindset is required in terms of seeing the North and South Central regions as a unified entity. This will lay important foundations for promoting tourism development and expanding tourism in the area in the near future.

Secondly, strengthening links in tourism development amongst localities in the two regions is necessary. Localities in both regions must coordinate with their economic council to develop plans on linking tourism development of the whole central region.

Thirdly, prioritising transportation infrastructure investment and human resource training while strengthening tourism connections both internationally and within Vietnam.

Finally, improving the quality of planning tailored to each locality in the region. Based on the government approval of the integration of the two Central regions, the MCST should develop appropriate plans for the consistent development of the tourism industry across the regions.

At the conference 14 central provinces signed a memorandum of understanding on tourism cooperation. These MoUs relate to the exchange of information on the development of tourism; cooperation on the development of tourism products and tourism promotion; and the development of human resources in tourism, ensuring the application of consistent and seamless guidelines and policies.

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As an initiator, co-organiser and sponsor of the conference, BIDV reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the development of tourism in the central area of Vietnam, specifically:

BIDV will provide consultancy on tourism development to localities in the region. The bank is committed to fund the planning of socio-economic development, tourism development, and the integration of tourism in the North and South Central regions.

In addition, BIDV is committed to providing loans to finance key infrastructure projects in the region in the period 2016-2020, including important transportation infrastructure projects such as the National Road 47 BOT project in Thanh Hoa Province; Vinh - Cua Lo Boulevard project in Nghe An Province; Cam Lo - Tuy Loan BT project; Ngang Pass Tunnel No. 2 project in Ha Tinh Province; and the North-South Expressway Project, and high-end tourism infrastructure projects in Hoi An, Quang Binh and Binh Dinh, amongst others.

In the period 2016-2020, BIDV will continue to coordinate with and support localities in the Central regions as well as acting as an active advocate, by calling on enterprises and investors to participate in sponsoring programmes, events, seminars and conferences on investment and tourism promotion in the regions.