Mekong Delta Seeks Ways to Boost Tourism

Mekong Delta region needs to invest more in infrastructure, marketing, and improving the quality of human resources to boost its tourism rich potentials, a conference was told on March 28 in Can Tho City.

 

The conference, aimed to discuss the tourism sector in the Mekong Delta region and the setting up of a regional tourism association to further develop the sector, was held by the Can Tho branch of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) with the attendance of representatives from provincial tourism departments, tourism agencies, and others.

 

More than 4 million domestic and 635,000 international tourists visited the region last year providing it revenues of VND373 billion ($23 million). However, these numbers did not compare with those of other major tourist spots, meeting attendees revealed.

 

The region’s most popular attraction, its network of rivers and canals, was not being capitalized on and neither foreign nor domestic tourists knew much about the region’s tourism products, the delegates said, adding that poor infrastructure and human resources and a lack of quality entertainment services have hindered it from taking full advantage of its market potential.

 

Establishing an association would contribute to tourism development, the delegates noted.

 

The VCCI has been entrusted with drafting comprehensive plans to be submitting to the government and the Vietnam Administration of Tourism.

 

Currently, the Mekong Delta, which is often known as the rice hub of Vietnam and posts the highest seafood and fruit outputs, is now home to 17 million people, accounting for 20.7 per cent of the country’s population. Its population is expected to hit 21.1 million by 2010 from 17.85 million in 2000.