On December 10th, the People's Committee of Ca Mau province held a conference to summarize the "Program for linking and cooperating in tourism development between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta in 2023".
Collaboration is an inevitable trend.
According to Mr. Nguyen Minh Luan, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ca Mau province, the conference is an annual and rotating event aimed at summarizing the results achieved in linking and cooperating in tourism development among localities. This is a key regional linkage program to create a common space for promoting, investing in, and developing tourism. Through this, it contributes to creating momentum for socio -economic development in the Southern key economic region.
Emphasizing that linkages and cooperation have become an inevitable, global trend, Mr. Nguyen Minh Luan stated that tourism activities are not outside this trajectory. To transform the image and stimulate tourism development in Ho Chi Minh City and the 13 provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta, identifying linkages as a key task is necessary. In fact, Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta localities have been promoting tourism activities in a substantive and effective way to attract and create the best experiences for visitors.
On the part of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Le Truong Hien Hoa, Deputy Director of the Department of Tourism, said that the linkage and cooperation for tourism development between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta in the period 2020 - 2030 is one of the city's key and breakthrough programs. This is also the first tourism cooperation program implemented on a wide scale and with diverse linkage spaces, bringing many practical results and creating a ripple effect to other linked regions in the country.
The Mekong Delta has many attractive destinations for tourism development. Photo: NGOC TRINH
"The tourism development cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and the provinces and cities of the Mekong Delta has built a strong brand to promote and attract domestic and international tourists. In addition, it has created a common space for the tourism business community, travel agencies, tourism service providers, and tourism training institutions; complementing the dual values and attractive tourism stimulus policies," - the Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism observed.
Some activities of the tourism linkage program among 14 provinces and cities include organizing exhibition spaces to introduce and promote tourism products; and promoting the application and promotion of the regional tourism brand identity.
Notably, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism has coordinated with provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta to survey destinations and organize conferences to evaluate linked tourism programs along key routes such as: the "Alluvial Roads" route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau; the "Picturesque Landscapes" route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Tien Giang, Ben Tre, and Tra Vinh; and the "Colorful Border Regions" route connecting Ho Chi Minh City with Long An, Dong Thap, An Giang , and Kien Giang.
Create a distinctive product.
Besides the achievements, the cooperation program also faces some difficulties that need to be addressed soon so that tourism in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta can "take off".
According to Mr. Nguyen Chi Cong, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Ca Mau province, some activities still lack depth and the effectiveness of linkages is not high. Specifically, the development of tourism products has not been given sufficient attention; state management agencies as well as local businesses have not clearly demonstrated their role in linking activities...
Ms. Nguyen Thi Ly, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Hau Giang province, acknowledged that the linkages still lack sustainability, although they have helped local tourism recover. Hau Giang province has made great efforts to promote tourism, but there are still not many investors in the tourism sector; most businesses are small and medium-sized, so they haven't proactively sought markets, improved service quality, or created new tourism products to attract visitors.
Mr. Duong Anh Duc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, assessed tourism as a comprehensive economic sector playing a crucial role. The development of tourism will contribute to showcasing the image of the country and the cultural beauty of Vietnam to international friends. The tourism industry in Ho Chi Minh City and the Mekong Delta provinces and cities has achieved many positive results, but still faces difficulties and challenges that need to be addressed.
"To develop tourism, localities need to build and create products with unique characteristics. Only when they do that can they attract and satisfy tourists. When tourists feel they receive the best service, they will not only return but also recommend the destination to their friends and relatives," Mr. Duong Anh Duc observed.
The Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee also stated that the city is committed to supporting the provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta in introducing tourism products visually and effectively to tourists through the application of information technology.
The advantages have not been fully exploited.
Not only is the Mekong Delta the largest producer and exporter of food and fruit in Vietnam, but it also boasts a dense network of rivers and canals, along with a cultural blend of the Kinh, Hoa, Khmer, and Cham ethnic groups. Therefore, the region has a strong potential for developing ecotourism and exploiting its cultural values. However, opinions at the conference acknowledged that the Mekong Delta has not yet fully exploited its tourism potential, and the effectiveness of its exploitation has not been commensurate with its capabilities.
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