International tourism fest launched
17:16 04/03/2009

A tourism festival focusing on the East West Economic Corridor opened in Central Vietnam’s Quang Tri province Wednesday.

The second Inter-Asia Bridge Quang Tri festival aims to boost cooperation, cultural and information exchange between Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and China.

The VND1 billion (US$62,266) festival will highlight an international trade fair and musical performances.

The event, paid for the by the local coffers, was held for the first time three years ago.

Quang Tri is located on the 1,450km-long East West Economic Corridor (EWEC), which runs through Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam.

The nations have all signed agreements to develop tourism, transportation and trade along the a route designated at the EWEC to link and boost the region’s economies.

Quang Tri is home to many famous historic and cultural sites.

However, its poor infrastructure has discouraged tourists and less than 300,000 foreign travelers visit the province annually, a tenth of the country’s total arrivals.

Tourism grew 15-25 percent in the province after it held the last festival.

This year’s festival wraps up on Saturday.

Reported by Kien Giang  – Translated by Tuong Nhi

Source : thanhniennews.com