Speaking at the event, ViceChairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Van Tam said the Mekong Deltais not only a granary but also one of the seven major tourism regions of thecountry.
The number of tourists to theregion rose 18.7 percent to 34 million last year, bringing total revenue ofover 17 trillion VND (748.9 million USD), up 26.5 percent annually.
Associate Prof. Nguyen KhacCuong, from the Government Office, said the government has issued a number ofdocuments directing the sustainable development of the Mekong Delta adaptive toclimate change, adding that it is the first time the State, consultant unitsand banks have worked together in the effort.
Nguyen Huu Thien, an independentecological expert, suggested incorporating tourism into socio-economicdevelopment plans of localities, with attention given to regional connectivity,tourism development in combination with clean agricultural production, amongothers.
Christopher Malone, ManagingDirector of the Boston Consulting Group, presented three strategic initiatives,including resorts on rivers, Mekong Delta safari, and ecological-agriculturediscovery, and talked ways to increase the number of tourists and theirexpenses in the region.
He emphasised the need to issue aframework for environmental sustainability, citing the Philippine government’sdecision to shut down Boracay island within six months due to pollution andworsening water quality as an example.
Experts introduced successfulmodels in the world such as canal tourism in the Netherlands, the US’s Mississippiriver tourism system, Nile river in Egypt and floating market in Thailand.
They called on parties concernedto launch flights to Can Tho international airport, and accelerate theconstruction of the remaining sections of Ho Chi Minh City – Can Tho highway.
The region needs to develop anintegrated lodging system and special tourism products to affirm its stature inthe world’s tourism map, they said.-VNA