Lao Cai (VNA) - Ho Chi Minh City and eight provinces in theexpanded northwestern region hosted 69.2 million visitors in 2023, accountingfor 105% of the set target and up nearly 28% year-on-year, heard a conference heldin Lao Cai province on December 25 to review their tourism cooperationprogramme.

Tourism revenue was estimated at 205.5 trillion VND (8.47 billion USD), or 102.7% of theannual plan.

The tourism tie-up during the 2021-2025 period aims at fully tapping potential, and developing more inter-regional offerings between HCM Cityand the eight provinces of Dien Bien, Ha Giang, Hoa Binh, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, SonLa, Yen Bai, and Phu Tho.

As the leader of the cooperation group in 2023, Lao Cai province chaired andcoordinated with other members to outline plans, arranged expenditure, anddirected other members to organise an array of activities, including the quintessence ofnorthwestern region festival in HCM City; expanded northwestern region culturaltourism week in HCM City, Can Tho, and Hanoi; and the northwestern region andHCM City cultural tourism week in Luang Prabang (Laos).

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Hoang Quoc Khanh said theevents made contributions to the popularisation of the localities’ tourism potential, destinations, and products to visitors and investors from farand wide.

With a view to strengthening tourism linkages within the group, participants atthe conference agreed to step up digital transformation, especially building anational tourism database and developing safe destinations for visitors.  

The group said they will join hands to set up the “Colours of Northwesternregion – HCM City” to introduce their potential, strengths, and standouttourism products, while promoting communications work on their images onflights as well as domestic and international mass media.

Besides, digital technologies will be applied into tourism linkages andpromotion activities.

Phu Tho will hold the group leadership in 2024./.