CAN THO – Thirteen provinces in the Mekong Delta region and HCMC have decided to collaborate over tourism development in the 2021-2025 period, according to Doan Tan Buu, vice chairman of Dong Thap Province.
Buu said the plan comprises five major components – information sharing, product development, marketing and promotion, human resource development and investment in tourism.
The related parties will share their short-term tourism plans and information about source markets such as Australia, Europe, the United States, Japan, South Korea, West Asia and the ASEAN.
They will also work together on tourism trends, expansion plans, development of new tourism products and policies for tourism enterprises.
Travel companies in the Mekong Delta and HCMC will collaborate to launch new tours, connect tourist attractions and develop new tourism services.
The 13 Mekong Delta provinces and HCMC will work together to build a tourism brand and carry out promotion activities such as field trips, FAM trips and press trips.
They will evaluate the quality of tourist attractions, lodging facilities, catering and shopping zones to ensure they meet national standards.
In terms of human resource development, the Mekong Delta provinces will coordinate with HCMC to organize training courses for managers of tourism facilities in accordance with international standards.
Leaders of the localities will share their tourism management experience, promotion and training for the tourism workforce.
To attract more investors, they will compile documents and advertisements over their tourism potential, investment opportunities, major tourism projects, and typical tourism enterprises.
The localities will improve tourism infrastructure and transport connectivity, especially between HCMC (with the Tan Son Nhat International Airport), Can Tho City (with the Can Tho International Airport), and Kien Giang Province (with the Phu Quoc International Airport).
Thirteen provinces in the Mekong Delta region and HCMC had earlier signed an agreement on cooperation in tourism development.
One year later, they have realized some goals to help develop tourism in HCMC and the Mekong Delta.
At the seminar on “Summarizing the results of cooperation in tourism development between HCMC and 13 Mekong Delta localities in 2020” taking place in Dong Thap Province early this year, Nguyen Thi Anh Hoa, director of the HCMC Department of Tourism, said the localities have established a Council for Cooperation in Tourism Development and launched various new tourism products.
HCMC-based Saigontourist Group has studied 126 tourist attractions, 31 hotels, resorts, homestays and farm stays, 15 restaurants, 11 souvenirs shops and five cultural events in the Mekong Delta. After the study, the group launched three new routes–the “Mekong Lifestyle” route, which comprises HCMC, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau; the “Mekong Rivers” route comprising HCMC, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh, Soc Trang, Can Tho, Bac Lieu and Ca Mau; and the “Sea Destinations” route comprising HCMC, Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang and Kien Giang.
Hoa said HCMC and 13 Mekong Delta localities have developed a brand-building plan to promote tourism. The plan seeks to develop HCMC and the Mekong Delta localities into attractive tourist destinations in the country and the region and contribute to the country’s economic development; pursue the mission to boost tourism development through creating specific tourism products for local and international tourists; and promote the core values of diversity, uniqueness, harmony and sustainability, and the identities of safety, friendliness, charm, hospitality, civilization, colorfulness and vividness.
