There are good signs for Quang Ninh tourism in early 2012. On the first day of the New Year , the number of tourists visiting Ha Long bay was quite crowded. Mr. Pham Quoc Binh, Chief of Bai Chay Tourist Wharf said , there were 373 boats departing from the wharf within the first day of 2012, carrying around 5,000 tourists visiting Ha Long Bay, of which the number of international visitors accounted for over 70%.
Also on the same day, Saigontourist Travel Service Company, Quang Ninh branch has welcomed the high-ranking SuperStar Aquarius cruise (under the Star Cruise) bringing more than 1,000 visitors and crew members to Ha Long Bay.
Notably, on these first days of the New Year, 3-star and 4-star hotels within the province have been mostly fully booked by the visitors, of which 90% are international ones who are mainly from Korea, Taiwan, China, Japan. In addition, accommodation boats on the Bay were booked at a high rate. Most of tourists staying overnight on boats are Europeans.
Mr. Doan Van Dung, general director of Indochina Junk JSC said,, although economic situation of the U.S and some other European countries is falling into depression and dramatically impacts on tourism industry, the good sign is that almost of accommodation boats of the company were fully booked, up more than 80% in comparison with the same period last year.
Also according to Mr. Doan Van Dung, in recent years, many international visitors, especially European ones tend to choose staying overnight on the Bay to welcome the New Year. The Indochina Junk JSC has 14 luxury accommodation boats with 63 rooms primarily serving visitors from Australia, the U.S, Canada, France…
According to the forecast of travel agencies, in 2012, Quang NInh will be one of the destinations that attracts both domestic and foreign visitors. Notably, , the event that Ha Long Bay was named on the list of the new seven natural wonders of the world fascinates more and more people to visit this unique wonder. Mr. Martens Robert David from the U.S, one of the 28 first people who come to Ha Long Bay on the first day of 2012 shared that, this is the first time he has been to the city and welcomed the New Year in Vietnam. He said that with its natural beauty of rocky islands and caves on the bay, Ha Long really deserves the heritage and wonder of the world.
Mr. Dao Phi Trung, a visitor from Jiangsu, China said, after hearing that Ha Long Bay was named on the list of the new seven natural wonders of the world based on preliminary result, he chose Ha Long as the destination for his holiday with family on the occasion of New Year.
With the presence of a wide number of domestic and international visitors to Quang Ninh on these days of New Year, Quang Ninh tourism is expected to get more good news and achievements in 2012.
Thu Nguyen
