The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has asked the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) to look for specific sites in the provinces chosen for hosting the annual national tourism promotion program from 2012 thru 2016.

On the website of the ministry, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh tells VNAT to draft a plan on selection of venues for submission to the Prime Minister.

The national tourism year in 2012 will take place in Thua Thien- Hue Province first, followed by Hai Phong City in 2013, Lao Cai Province in 2014, Thanh Hoa Province in 2015, and Kien Giang Province in 2016.

The tourism year 2011 is set for Phu Yen Province as well as other coastal provinces – Quang Nam, Quang Ngai, Binh Dinh, Khanh Hoa, Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan and Danang.

Asked by the Daily about reasons to choose such provinces for the program in 2012-2016, an official of VNAT said provinces and cities could register to play host to the event.

“The tourism authority will choose the host upon provincial request. Any provinces that prove their capacity and resources can be considered,” the official said.

Since the country’s first tourism year was organized in the northern province of Quang Ninh in 2003, the year-long event has been brought to Dien Bien, Nghe An, Quang Nam, Thai Nguyen, and Can Tho.

The program was not held in 2009, and will be skipped this year again as the host city, Hanoi, is racing against time to organize a host of activities in celebration of the 1,000th year of Thang Long- Hanoi.

For the national tourism year in 2011, Phu Yen and neighboring provinces will work out activities designed to woo more local and international tourists.