Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Truong Luu presided and gave the closing speech at the meeting
In his report, the Director of the Hue Monuments Conservation Centre Phan Thanh Hai said that in the first 6 months of 2018, the centre has completed and prepared investment for 15 projects. There are 12 transitional and soon to be completed projects. 7 transitional projects will be completed after 2018. 8 new projects were initiated in 2018... The number of foreign visitors to Hue reached over 1.2 million. Total revenue to August 20 reached more than 265 billion VND out of 320 billion VND according to the annual plan. In particular, the revenue from tickets was more than 208 billion VND.
In the last months of 2018, the centre will promote some key tasks related to policies and mechanisms to support the conservation and promotion of the value of Hue monuments according to the Decision of the Prime Minister; setting up large projects and creating positive effects for tourism and socio-cultural development of the province. The centre will coordinate with related parties to relocate 2,778 households in Imperial City relic area 1. The centre will complete the project of reforming the central management model to be more autonomous. The centre will promote management of restoration of monuments, investment in construction and repair, with the total mobilized capital of 2016-2018 at more than 595 billion VND.
The leader of Hue Monuments Conservation Centre recommended that the provincial People's Committee set up a specific mechanism for the relocation of households living in the relic area to preserve the relics; direct the concerned departments and branches to coordinate with the centre in order to soon complete the scheme on renovating the organizational and operational model in the direction of streamlining and efficiency; and assist the center in implementing projects on preserving and embellishing the landscapes around heritage sites.
Mr. Phan Thanh Hai, Director of Hue Monuments Conservation Centre reporting the centre's activities
Based on this, the Provincial Standing Committee, the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee, and the leaders of related departments focused on contributing ideas and proposing solutions for the management of the planning work, investment in restoration, and the encroachment issue of heritage sites; creating a financial mechanism for the operation model; and promoting the value of heritages... to preserve and promote the value of Hue’s cultural heritage to further develop in the coming time.
Closing the meeting, Secretary of the provincial Party Committee Le Truong Luu confirms that there are still many issues that need to be addressed in preserving and promoting the value of Hue's cultural heritage, especially the problem of restoration associated with exploitation. For those relic sites that have not yet to be restored, the grounds must still be tended to. Transportation and parking at the monuments must also be planned to separate the flow of vehicles.
Concerning the quality of service at the monuments, the Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee notes that the Hue Monuments Conservation Center should stay away from mass development and be selective to maintain cultural values. Depending on each area, the centre needs to have schemes for socialization coupled with the reform of the management model.
The centre and departments need to focus on whether or not to create a walking street around the Citadel to create a lively night life for tourists. Another noted issue is that the organization of festivals should also be selective and organized at appropriate times to avoid a waste of money.
The relics are the soul of the tourism of the province. Calculating how to promote heritages effectively needs to be addressed but should be based on scientific research and recalculating the scale. There need to be special products to attract visitors. More effort is necessary in the coming time to bring about higher economic efficiency.
Story and photos: Anh Phong