The Vietnamese tourism industry will be promoted on the global BBC TV channel and on public transport in the UK as from late April 2009, an official of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on March 26.

The government has agreed to spend VND25 billion on the promotion of the tourism sector in 2009, including US$204,000 for 320 broadcasts, each lasting 30 seconds, on the BBC, said Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the International Cooperation Department under the ministry.

He added that the promotion programme will have a total air time of 20 weeks, including eight weeks in the Asia-Pacific, six in Europe and six in America.

In addition, the ministry will buy advertising on taxis in Britain featuring a Vietnamese young girl in traditional long dress standing on the Ha Long Bay, a world natural heritage site.