The ceremony was attended by former State Presidents Tran Duc Luong, Nguyen Thi Binh, and Truong My Hoa as well as Secretary of the Party Central Committee (PCC) cum Head of PCC Commission for Mass Mobilization Ha Thi Khiet, and deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan who is also head of the State Steering Committee for Tourism.

At the ceremony, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh pinpointed the advantages of sea tourism for the south central coastal provinces. He added that there will be 30 national and international cultural, sports and tourism events in these provinces this year.

Addressing the gathering, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan affirmed the importance of the sea and island economy and tourism sector. He stated that Vietnam has a coastline of more than 3,000 kilometres long with thousands of islands and beaches.  

Mr Nhan stated that the Party and State has issued resolutions and strategies for the development of seacoast and island economy up to 2020, which is why the National Tourism Year is being held in these provinces in 2011.

An art programme for the festival was also held to introduce the history and development of Phu Yen province.