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a beach destination in its entirety. There will never be enough demand although everyone dreams of owning a vacation or a second home on the beach. Islands, in general, fare less well as people prefer to settle on the mainland, which is considered to be safer and lifestyle supporting. There are no questions that successful beach destinations develop around an airport which preferably should be an international port. That becomes obvious in Danang, Nha Trang/Cam Ranh, and in Phu Quoc, once the new airport is in operation. Destinations developing around these airports are considered primary destinations. Destinations with domestic airports are considered secondary and the ones without airports are tertiary in terms of importance. Destinations as Halong Bay, Vung Tau, Phan Thiet/Mui Ne have developed because of their proximity to metropolises such as Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, which are the main gateways into Vietnam and have a rather
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large expatriate community searching for weekend getaway destinations. There is the need to develop “Road Tourism” and leeway has been made building roads and tunnels. I developed the World Heritage Road in 2001 anticipating the road’s development and the need to escalate tourism to the next higher dimension. Promoting the World Heritage Road contributed to the successful development of Central Vietnam as a destination. I will continue to develop the World Heritage Road and plan a global convention on “Theme Roads” which will give Vietnam and its beaches access to worldwide promotion. The World Heritage Road stretches on National Highway 1A along the coast and will make its contribution in the beach destination development allowing more effective circulation of travellers along the coast of Vietnam. To really explore beaches the tourism product has to be completed. Leisure ships should connect the populated beaches and islands.
VIETNAM’S GOLD COAST
Existing sea and river passenger ships have to be upgraded. Beach entertainment is in its infant stages and there is a need for purpose-built resorts complimented by supporting facilities and services as diving, and professional water sports outfits. The safety of beach destinations in central Vietnam has improved dramatically with the introduction of lifeguarding in cooperation with the Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia in 1996. There is a concerted trend to create a Vietnam beach tourism product, which is expected around the world. This effort has failed so far and there is a need for the officials and the travel trade to work harder. A practical master plan developers have to follow has to be reinforced by the government. Within the parameters of this master plan provincial and developer competition is allowed, outside not. It’s mandatory for developers to contract professional operator services from day one. By day two it is already too late. The hotel concept will be briefed by the operator to the architect who will prepare the master plan and detailed plans for architecture. Thereafter the development team will be completed which is going to drive timely development. Does this sound familiar? I guess not because it’s not the fact but it should be. The environment is our life and so we have to protect it. Everyone can do it regardless of greediness and the authorities should reinforce this with laws, regulations and serious violation fines. Vietnam, as a tourism destination has a great future, but only with well developed beach tourism, which is expected in a tropical country.
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