NHA TRANG — The first Miss Sea Tourism Viet Nam 2022 pageant, held in Nha Trang City, has attracted the participation of more than 400 young aspirants.

The contest is part of Khanh Hòa Province's efforts to boost tourism recovery this year.

From the aspirants aged 18 to 27 and at least 1.60m tall, 20 candidates will be shortlisted for the semifinal round to be held on Champa Island in Nha Trang from July 7 to 9.

The contestants will compete in the categories of traditional costumes, swimsuits, question-and-answer sessions and evening wear.

They will also take part in two additional competitions highlighting their work in promoting tourist activities in Khanh Hòa.

Ten finalists will vie for the crown in the final round held July 11-28.

The final night is expected to be organised at the Vinwonder-Vinperal Nha Trang on July 30. The winner will receive VNĐ2 billion (US$86,000) in cash and gifts.  

Miss Tourism and Miss Áo Dai (Vietnamese dress) prizes will also be awarded.

The pageant is organised by the Khanh Hòa Department of Tourism in co-operation with Hunky Dory Vietnam Company, Ltd.,.

"We target having our beauty contest become a highlight of the National Tourism Year 2022 campaign, strongly boosting tourism of Nha Trang City,” said Huỳnh Đuc Hòa, head of Miss Sea Tourism Viet Nam 2022’s organising board.

As of February 22 this year, Khanh Hòa had welcomed 48 flights with more than 10,000 foreign tourists from Rusia, Japan, Korea, and Malaysia, after the Government allowed pilot implementation of receiving foreign tourists in five localities, including Khanh Hòa, in November 2021.

Nguyễn Thị Le Thanh, director of Khanh Hòa Province’s Department of Tourism, said most foreign visitors expressed satisfaction with the quality of products and services provided and were confident in the measures taken to prevent and control the pandemic as well as measures to ensure safety for visitors during their stay.

“If the market continues to prosper, we will achieve the target of welcoming more than 1.2 million visitors, including 40,000 foreigners this year. We aim at earning tourism revenues of VNĐ4 trillion ($172 million), an increase of 80 per cent compared to 2021,” Thanh told local media. — VNS