Over 200,000 visitors both at home and abroad have enjoyed the 2013 DaLat Tourism and Culture Week in the Central Highlands city of the samename, dubbed as a “small Paris” or a “city of thousands of flowers”.

Opening the week on December 27, the local authorities took theoccasion to launch the 2014 Central Highlands-Da Lat NationalTourism Year, celebrate the city’s 120th founding anniversary andthe fifth Da Lat flower festival.

During the five-day event,tourists were charmed with music and dance performances, sightseeingtours and fascinating cultural events in a flowery setting.

In his closing remark, Deputy Chairman of the Lam Dong provincialPeople’s Committee Doan Van Viet said via the event, Da Lat - a heroicand tourist city has become popular wide and far. Its floriculturistshave seen more chances to access domestic and foreign markets, signalingthat the city will be a flower cultivation and export centre in theregion.

The 2014 Central Highlands-Da Lat NationalTourism Year themed “High Mountains, Thick Forests of CentralHighlands” will host 37 events next year, 23 of which will get underwayin Lam Dong, mainly in Da Lat and its neighboring localities.

Lam Dong province has developed six tours for the national tourismyear, offering holiday-makers chances to explore the beauty of forests,mountains, streams and waterfalls as well as the life of local ethnicgroups.

The year will also helpdomestic and foreign businesses operating in the tourism sector step uptheir cooperation and effectively exploit tourism potential of theregion and each of its provinces, including Lam Dong, Dak Nong, Dak Lak,Gia Lai and Kon Tum.-VNA