Southern specialties are introduced within the programme (Photo: VNA)Can Tho (VNA) - A programme to boost tourismin HCM City and the Mekong Delta kicked off in Can Tho city on July 3.
It aims to promote the tourism potential of thesouthern economic hub and the Delta’s 13 cities and provinces, while improvinginter-regional tourism development.
It will also look to rejuvenate the domestic tourism sectorpost-pandemic and prepare to resume international activities when thegovernment permits.
HCM City and the Mekong Delta signed a tourismdevelopment cooperation agreement last December.
Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s CommitteeDuong Tan Hien said the Mekong Delta is home to a diverse ecosystem. Touristscan, for example, visit fruit orchards in Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long, DongThap, and Can Tho, while those to Kien Giang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau will have theopportunity to experience seas and islands.
Tourists to An Giang, Soc Trang and Tra Vinh, he said,can learn about historical relic sites and enjoy local food specialties.
While the Mekong Delta possesses advantagesin ecotourism products, HCM City is strong in MICE (meetings, incentives,conferences and exhibitions) - a form of tourism in which large groups, usuallyplanned well in advance, are brought together.
Links between HCM City and MekongDelta localities have helped the two sides expand tourism markets, according toHien.
In the context of being unable toopen up to international tourists due to COVID-19, increasing the number ofVietnamese tourists is the only solution to promote the industry, he added.
The number of tourists to the Mekong Delta in 2019was estimated at 47 million, and the tourism sector grossed 30 trillion VND(1.28 billion USD) in revenue./.
VNA
