CAN THO – To boost domestic tourism after the coronavirus pandemic ends, a program to offer promotional tourism products and enhance the quality of services provided in the Mekong Delta will take place from June 1 to December this year, as part of the joint efforts of 13 provinces in the delta.
The program was announced at a conference to discuss major steps to be taken to fuel the recovery of tourism held by the Mekong Delta Tourism Association on May 29 in Can Tho City.
At the event, representatives of travel units in the 13 provinces approved a list of 100 tourism service providers and operators of lodging facilities who have pledged to offer discounts of 5-20% under the program to boost tourism.
Tran Huu Hiep, vice president of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, said that the program is aimed at attracting local tourists from other localities to visit the delta, eventually paving the way for further measures to be undertaken to restore the international segment.
He noted that the association would continue to encourage more tour operators to join the program and enhance tourism between localities, travel firms and tourism organizations.
It will prioritize cooperation with HCMC and select Can Tho, Kien Giang and Bac Lieu as major areas to execute the program. It will also call on reputed travel businesses to participate.
Nguyen Khanh Tung, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Can Tho, stated that the Mekong Delta city has worked out a long-term plan to initiate the recovery of tourism in coordination with HCMC.
Tung also suggested organizing various tours—Hanoi-Can Tho-Kien Giang-Phu Quoc, Hanoi-Can Tho-Con Dao and Can Tho-Hau Giang—in cooperation with other localities outside the delta.
The director remarked that a high-speed boat service connecting Can Tho with Con Dao in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province and tour services on the Victoria Mekong yacht between Can Tho and Chau Doc will be launched on July 1, in addition to new travel services set to be rolled out in early May at community tourism and ecotourism sites.
As for travel businesses, Le Dinh Minh Thy, director of Vietravel’s Mekong Delta branch, said her company intends to offer safe tourism activities preferred by visitors such as island and beach tours or tours to the airy countryside in the delta.
Vietravel will also team up with localities to offer interprovincial or tailor-made tours to families and young travelers. The firm will boost tourism by keeping tour prices unchanged and enhancing the quality of services.
According to Dang Minh Viet, head representative of the national flag carrier Vietnam Airlines in Can Tho, the carrier resumed services on domestic routes linking Can Tho with Hanoi and Danang from April 17 and offers attractive airfares. It will reopen more domestic routes from June 2 to encourage local tourists to travel.
By Huynh Kim
