Binh Thuan (VNA) – The south central province ofBinh Thuan needs to fully tap its tourism potential and increase thisindustry’s proportion in the local GDP to at least 15 percent, Prime MinisterNguyen Xuan Phuc told provincial officials on April 18.

Home to a nearly-200km-long coast, Binh Thuanboasts warm climate, clean beaches, beautiful landscapes, including Mui Ne – aleading tourist destination of Vietnam, and favourable transport.

Tourism accounts for 8.26 percent of theprovince’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP) at present. 

Binh Thuan welcomed over 4.52 million touristsin 2016, earning 9.04 trillion VND (397.48 million USD). In the first quarterof 2017, the tourist number rose 8.9 percent year on year, generating nearly2.77 trillion VND (121.7 million USD) in tourism revenue – up 17.4 percent froma year earlier.

At the working session in the province, PM Phucsaid Binh Thuan has yet to fully capitalise on its tourism potential. Thissector hasn’t received appropriate investment while the number of foreignvisitors is still low.

Representatives of some ministries and centralagencies also underscored the local sea-based economic potential, especiallytourism.

They said if transport infrastructure isdeveloped in a modern and synchronous manner, there are many opportunities toturn tourism into a spearhead industry in Binh Thuan in the near future. 

They asked the province to pay attention tohuman resources training and better mechanisms and policies to attractinvestment, thereby improving infrastructure and creating more interesting andquality tourism products. By doing so, it could soon become a strong tourismbrand name of Vietnam.

In 2016, the province posted a GRDP growth rateof 7.42 percent and per capita GRDP of 40.3 million VND (over 1,770 USD). Amongkey projects in Binh Thuan, the Phu Lac wind power plant with a total capacityof 24MW has been operational.

PM Phuc applauded the province’s achievementswhile pointing out certain problems, including a shortage of economic drivingforces, high household poverty rate, modest application of high technology inagriculture, high rate of agricultural labourers, and low provincialcompetitiveness.

In the mid-term, Binh Thuan should focus ontourism, processing industry and agriculture, especially hi-tech agriculture,he stressed.

He asked local officials to improve developmentplans, particularly those for coastal areas, and diversify investment sources.It needs to facilitate entrepreneurship so as to have more than 7,000businesses by 2020.

The Government leader also requested renewableand non-renewable energy to be harmonised during economic development. Heencouraged the province to strive to take the lead in the renewable energyindustry in Vietnam.

Additionally, it is necessary to associatesea-based economic activities with sea and island sovereignty protection, hesaid, adding that fishermen need more support to modernise their fishing vehiclesand develop fisheries logistics services, helping to safeguard the marinesovereignty.

During his working trip to Binh Thuan, PM Phucattended a ceremony to start the construction of a hi-tech agricultural complexin Song Binh commune of Bac Binh district. The 3.9 trillion VND complex,covering 800ha, is set to plant short-term trees, farm dairy and beef cattle,and produce milk products.-VNA