A "Weekend Gong - Enjoy and Experience" session in Pleiku - Photo: NGUYEN QUANG TUE
On the afternoon of February 29, Mr. Tran Ngoc Nhung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province, said that the department has just decided to temporarily suspend the activity "Weekend Gong - Enjoy and Experience" due to lack of funding allocation.
According to Mr. Nhung, from the end of April 2022, the program "Weekend Gong - Enjoy and Experience" will be implemented to promote and develop the special value of the cultural heritage honored by UNESCO.
Thereby, the activity also contributes to promoting local tourism development, introducing and promoting the image of Gia Lai land and people to domestic and foreign tourists.
This gong performance is regularly held every Saturday evening at Dai Doan Ket Square, on one side of Anh Hung Nup Street (Pleiku City), from 7pm to 9pm.
The program is evaluated by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism as a new and attractive model, encouraging the community to protect and promote the value of "Central Highlands Gong Cultural Space".
"The suspension of operations is due to lack of funding for operations. The reason is that the program is maintained with socialized funding. In the last 6 months of 2023, the program will be supported by the State (project 6).
By early 2024, the project was still in the process of completing its documentation and could not be implemented. When funding is available, the "Weekend Gong" program will continue.
"I know that the temporary suspension of operations during this time is disappointing, but we have to accept it. If we continue, we will not be able to explain the disbursement. At that time, it will be difficult for inspectors and auditors to intervene," said Mr. Nhung.
"It's honey season, so it's a pity to have to stop the gong program..."
Meanwhile, Mr. Nguyen Quang Tue - Head of the Cultural Management Department of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Gia Lai province - said that in 2023, due to the late disbursement of funds for the program, there was a surplus of about 200 million VND. According to regulations, it cannot be used in 2024.
So since the beginning of the year, while waiting for money from the budget, the organizers have joined hands to contribute nearly 170 million VND to organize 7 gong nights on weekends.
However, we cannot continue this program any longer so we are officially announcing a temporary suspension from Saturday (March 2).
"Everyone knows that the time after Tet is always the most beautiful time in the Central Highlands. It's the "bees go to collect honey" season, so it's a pity to have to stop the gong program. When there is funding to resume operations, it will take some time. And it's also the rainy season," said Mr. Tue.
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