The northern province of Ninh Binh, which is famous for its beautiful scenery and historical relics, has attracted a sharply increased number of domestic and international tourists, earning VND245 billion in revenues, up 51 percent from the same period last year.

As many 2.4 million tourists arrived in the province in 2009, a 26 percent rise from last year. These included 600,000 foreigners, and 130,000 tourists who stayed in Ninh Binh for an extended time.

This tourism success is attributed to the province’s efforts to concentrate investment in the tourism sector and traffic-related infrastructure. Ninh Binh’s new restaurants and recreational areas have helped attract and sustain tourism.

The province has also paid great attention to the professional training of tour guides, receptionists and other staff in support services.

The tourists to this land of a former national capital have already surpassed the capacity of many hotels, inns and restaurants. Many tourists who wanted to taste goat meat - a Ninh Binh specialty - had to return because restaurants were already full of tourists.

The province is now taking measures to attract larger investment into its tourism and hospitality industry to meet increasing demands in the future.