To ensure the tourism industry develops in a focused and targeted manner, Soc Trang province has implemented many plans and projects to facilitate the participation of people and businesses in the rapid and sustainable development of tourism.
At the same time, it supports individuals and businesses in the tourism service sector in accessing preferential capital sources, gradually transforming tourism into a key economic sector and contributing to the restructuring of the local economy.
Boosting the tourism industry
In January 2024, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang Province awarded 1.5 billion VND in support to organizations and individuals in accordance with Resolution No. 05/2020/NQ-HĐND, dated July 7, 2020, of the Soc Trang Provincial People's Council, which stipulates a number of policies to support tourism development in Soc Trang Province for the period 2020-2025. According to Mr. Tran Minh Ly, Provincial Party Committee member and Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang Province, Resolution No. 05/2020/NQ-HĐND stipulates 10 policies to support tourism development in Soc Trang Province for the period 2020-2025, with a total implementation budget of over 76.8 billion VND. Accordingly, in this support round, five organizations and individuals benefited from the policy, including: the owner of Thuan Phat Conference and Wedding Center - Garden Cafe in Vinh Chau town with 200 million VND; the owner of Duy Dung business in Cu Lao Dung district with 100 million VND; Bo Tum Vong Sa Som Rong pagoda in Soc Trang city with 1 billion VND; Hai Phuoc An pagoda and Serey Kandal pagoda in Vinh Chau town with 100 million VND.
Expressing his joy and excitement at receiving support from the province, Mr. Chau Van Tai, owner of Thuan Phat Wedding & Conference Center and Garden Cafe in Vinh Chau town, shared: “We will proceed with building facilities to display OCOP products and souvenirs to provide tourists with the best experience and allow them to fully enjoy the local specialties. The province's attention has encouraged businesses and motivated us to improve the quality of our trade and tourism services.”
Regarding plans for investment, expansion, and further development of services for tourists in the future, Venerable Ly Duc of Bo Tum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda stated that on April 13, 2023, the People's Committee of Soc Trang province issued Decision No. 905/QD-UBND recognizing Bo Tum Vong Sa Som Rong Pagoda as a tourist destination of the province. The timely support from the Provincial People's Committee has facilitated the pagoda's investment and upgrading of facilities to serve the religious needs of Buddhists and tourists. As a result, Som Rong Pagoda is not only a source of pride for the Khmer people of Soc Trang, but also a place of worship and sightseeing for visitors from near and far when coming to Soc Trang, contributing to the development of the local tourism industry.
Comrade Tran Minh Ly stated that in 2024, the unit will strive to implement Resolution No. 05/2020/NQ-HĐND, continue to survey and create favorable conditions to support businesses, organizations, individuals, and households in accessing and participating in tourism activities, while also acknowledging and incorporating the contributions and suggestions of delegates regarding tourism activities. The unit will closely coordinate with localities and units to promote the dissemination and implementation of the resolution on policies supporting tourism development in the province, diversifying tourism business models to suit development trends and requirements. With the efforts of the entire political system, especially tourism service businesses, tourist destinations, and community households, Soc Trang's tourism is undergoing a strong transformation.
Tourism in Soc Trang holds much promise.
Soc Trang, with its 72km long coastline and three major river estuaries – Tran De, Dinh An, and My Thanh – is ideally situated for developing waterway transportation. The province has five national highways connecting it with other provinces and cities within and outside the region, facilitating tourism development. Soc Trang is also a land that embodies the unique cultural characteristics of the Kinh, Khmer, and Hoa ethnic communities, reflected in its diverse system of temples and pagodas, distinctive architecture, and characteristic cultural festivals. Each district, town, and city boasts provincial and national-level historical and cultural relics. Many cultural events and traditional festivals of ethnic minorities are held annually, including the Ooc om boc Festival – Ngo Boat Race, which has been elevated to a regional festival in the Mekong Delta.
During the period 2016-2020, the province invested over 2,500 billion VND in the construction, renovation, and upgrading of numerous transportation infrastructure projects serving the public and tourism development, such as: the road leading to the Ho Chi Minh Memorial Temple in Cu Lao Dung district, the Truc Lam Zen Monastery Cultural and Religious Area, and the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Area; and invested in cultural, sports, and entertainment facilities to serve tourists, such as: the Nga Nam Sub-district Victory Monument, the Co Bay Hue Memorial House, and the Luong Dinh Cua Agricultural Doctor Memorial House and Monument... In addition, the province also exploited many projects to develop tourism products from socialized funding sources, recognized 4 tourist destinations, and formed several tourism products such as cultural festival - culinary - shopping tourism in Soc Trang city, historical and cultural tourism to the Provincial Party Committee Base Area, community tourism at Nga Nam floating market, and eco-tourism along the rivers and orchards of My Phuoc islet and Cu Lao Dung…
To "give wings" to Soc Trang tourism, in April 2022, the Provincial People's Committee approved the overall plan for tourism development in Soc Trang province for the period 2022-2025, with a vision to 2030, with a total estimated budget of 3,588.5 billion VND.
The overall goal of the project is that by 2025, tourism in Soc Trang will become an important economic sector of the province, with clearly defined, distinctive, and competitive tourism products, and professional tourism activities. By 2030, tourism in Soc Trang will become a key economic sector of the province with a synchronized infrastructure system, diverse tourism products, strong brands and high competitiveness, contributing to economic restructuring, poverty reduction, job creation, increased budget revenue, and providing impetus for the development of other economic sectors.
The plan also sets targets for 2025, aiming to have 4 more tourist destinations recognized, 1-3 tourist areas; 3-5 three-star hotels and 1 four-star hotel; attract approximately 2,600,000 visitors, including 50,000 international visitors; achieve tourism revenue of VND 1,450 billion; have 80% of tourist areas and destinations meet green, clean, and beautiful natural environment standards; and have 100% of tourist areas and destinations with standard restrooms. By 2030, the plan aims to have 3 more tourist destinations recognized, 1-2 tourist areas, 2-3 four-star hotels or higher; attract approximately 3,585,000 visitors with revenue reaching VND 3,500 billion…
According to information from the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Soc Trang province, in 2023, the total number of tourists visiting the province reached 2,900,810, achieving 127% of the annual plan, an increase of 3.8% compared to 2022 (2,794,740); total revenue from tourism reached VND 1,550 billion, achieving 154% of the annual plan, an increase of 4.4% compared to 2022 (VND 1,484 billion). The province has effectively operated the Soc Trang Smart Tourism System and has updated 1,053 locations and travel companies, digitized 3D data linked to the system at 1 point, digitized QR codes at 14 points, and linked QR codes of 11 types of tourism publications of Soc Trang province to the smart tourism portal…
According to the Soc Trang Provincial Tourism Promotion Information Center, in 2024, in addition to participating in domestic and international tourism promotion activities, the unit also advised on the implementation of the Soc Trang Provincial Tourism Brand Building Project, the Soc Trang Provincial Tourism Promotion Strategy Project, and the Project on Developing Ecotourism in Melaleuca Forests combined with Cultural Tourism at the Soc Trang Provincial Party Committee Base Area. Currently, the center is developing a research project on building a unique riverine cultural festival tourism product reflecting the identity of Soc Trang province, aiming to create distinctive tourism products linked to the province's cultural and riverine tourism potential.
“Along with strengthening the promotion and advertising of Soc Trang tourism at domestic and international tourism events, the province is also implementing a tourism development linkage program with Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta region, integrating modern tools into tourism promotion programs, stimulating domestic tourism demand, and providing consulting on brand building for key tourism areas and key local tourism products… We believe that the effective implementation of these projects and schemes will contribute to making tourism an important economic sector and, by 2030, a leading economic sector of the province,” shared Ms. Le Hoang Yen, Director of the Soc Trang Provincial Tourism Information and Promotion Center.
According to Soc Trang Newspaper
Source
Comment (0)