French grants back ecotourism

France’s Regional Council Poitou Charentes and with other French partners are providing USD517,000 in aid to help central Thua Thien Hue province to develop eco-tourism projects from now to 2016.
The project was launched, earlier this month, to focus on the world heritage town of Hue after an earlier project offered support for facilities at a resort district in the mountain region of Nam Dong.
The project will help local tourism sectors to assist them to protect the environment and promote local cultural heritage, especially the Hue ancient imperial palace ruins that are a UNESCO-recognised World Cultural Heritage site.
Earlier, the Poitou-Charentes Regional Council also funded USD23,500 to build a Guol House, a communal house of the Co Tu ethnic minority people, in Thuong Nhat commune, Nam Dong district and to offer accommodations for tourists.
Located on a 1,500 sqm land plot, the house opened at the beginning of this year.
Besides the ancient imperial city of Hue, Thua Thien-Hue province is attracting visitors due to its natural landscape, such as Lang Co – one of the world’s 30 most beautiful bays, and Tam Giang-Cau Hai lagoon system – the largest of its kind in Southeast Asia.
More than 1 million tourists visited the province in the first six months of this year, half of them were foreigners.

Sourced: ttrweekly