Opening up avenues for aviation and tourism development.

In addition to efforts to diversify tourism products, Can Tho City is actively coordinating market development promotion, opening new and maintaining flight routes to and from the city. Strengthening the links between the aviation and tourism industries is expected to boost socio-economic development for Can Tho City and the entire Mekong Delta region.

International tourists visit Cai Rang floating market. Photo: KIEU MAI

Identifying "bottlenecks"

According to the Can Tho City Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, the city has focused on implementing numerous projects and policies to promote the value of its unique ecotourism, cultural tourism, community tourism, agricultural tourism, and beach tourism. Many large-scale cultural and tourism events have been successfully organized. In addition, the expansion of development space and the city's diverse tourism ecosystem create favorable conditions for building highly competitive regional tourism products.

Furthermore, Can Tho International Airport (CIA) holds a strategic location, playing a crucial role as an important air gateway for the Mekong Delta. With a comprehensive infrastructure system, a capacity to serve 3 million passengers per year, and the ability to operate wide-body aircraft such as the Airbus A350 and Boeing 787, Can Tho International Airport is expected to become a key aviation link in the region, creating momentum to promote tourism, trade, and socio -economic development of the city and the region.

Despite its commendable achievements, Can Tho's tourism industry still faces certain limitations. The range of tourism products is not yet truly diverse; the length of stay and spending of tourists remain low. Links between tourism and aviation, trade, agriculture, and services are not yet synchronized. Some international promotional activities are also limited.

Meanwhile, Can Tho International Airport has yet to fully exploit its potential. In particular, the temporary suspension of international flights at Can Tho International Airport significantly impacts its ability to directly attract international tourists to the city. Most tourists currently have to travel by road or transit through major airports such as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang.

Strengthening the bond

To boost tourism market promotion for Can Tho and the Mekong Delta region, Ms. Nguyen Thi Kieu Duyen, Director of the Can Tho City Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center, proposed four key areas of focus. Specifically: strengthening cooperation in market development and restoring international flight routes; focusing on building and developing distinctive tourism products with high competitiveness in the market; promoting tourism promotion and marketing in a modern and digitally-driven direction; and attracting investment to develop high-quality tourism infrastructure and services.

Mr. Sam Long Giang, Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Can Tho City, proposed that ACV (Airports Corporation of Vietnam) should soon restore international routes and increase the frequency of domestic flights connecting from the North and Central regions. The Department will coordinate with relevant units to advise the City People's Committee on organizing large-scale cultural, sports, and tourism events as an effective lever to attract tourists and contribute to improving the efficiency of flight operations.

Mr. Nguyen Cao Cuong, Deputy General Director of ACV Can Tho, noted that Can Tho not only has tourism potential but also favorable conditions for developing air logistics thanks to its proximity to seaports and raw material centers. ACV will continue to implement preferential policies, support market promotion, and coordinate advertising to attract more airlines to operate routes in Can Tho.

Mr. Truong Canh Tuyen, Chairman of the People's Committee of Can Tho City, said: This year, the city plans to organize investment, trade, and tourism promotion delegations to key markets such as South Korea, Japan, China, Malaysia, and Thailand… to promote tourism, connect businesses, and promote the opening of new flight routes. The city is finalizing a new integrated planning scheme, aiming to form logistics centers for road, rail, air, and sea transport. The city will continue to closely coordinate with ACV and relevant units in promoting investment, tourism, improving the quality of local tourism products, and creating favorable conditions for the development of flight routes to/from Can Tho.

T. TRINH

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/mo-huong-phat-trien-hang-khong-va-du-lich-a205602.html