Illustrative photo (Photo: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) – Community-based tourism service providers in the Mekong Delta city ofCan Tho need to be evaluated and classified by “quality label”, heard a workshopin the city on March 21.
The workshop entitled“The participatory of community on Green – Clean – Beautiful Initiative andEcological Culture which will be linked to the urban prosperity approachtowards sustainable development for Can Tho City” was held by the Can ThoPeople’s Committee and the United Nation Human Settlements Programme (UNHabitat).
Speaking at the event,Vice Chairwoman of the municipal People’s Committee Vo Thi Hong Anh, said CanTho has put many efforts to develop green tourism over the past five yearswhich resulted in an increased number of tourist arrivals and more foreigndirect investment (FDI) concentrated in the field.
However, the localtourism industry has not fully tapped its potential highlighted by the native folkculture and system of canals and rivers alongside various tropical fruits, shenoted, adding that the city needs a more comprehensive plan for tourism growth.
According to thecity’s plan on tourism development towards 2030, Can Tho will develop tours inwhich visitors can experience local river life and enjoy wandering aroundgardens of tropical fruits or they can learn about local history from culturaland historical relics, the vice chairwoman said.
Cultural and eco-tours in Can Tho, and the Mekong Delta in general, are not every different fromeach other and they vary considerably in price and service quality, Prof. LeeSeung-koo from Kangwon National University stated.
He emphasised on theneed for the city to evaluate their service quality and classify them by“quality label” to prevent them from providing poor services while overchargingtourists.
The assessment shouldbe based on a transparent set of standards and authorities can study successfulmodels of community-based tourism in Vietnam and other countries for referenceto develop such standards.
Business householdshould also be offered soft loans to improve their tours and services, headded.
According to Prof. KimKwi-gon, President of the RoK-based International Urban Training Centre,authority and travel agencies should act as a bridge between tourists and thelocals that provide community-based tourism services and relevant state bodiesshould help them get education in management, communication and foreignlanguages to serve tourists better and make their livelihood moresustainably.-VNA
VNA
