Saigontourist Travel Service Company welcomed passengers on the World Dream cruise ship, which arrived at Tan Cang-Cai Mep Port in Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province last month. (Photo saigontourist.net)HCM City (VNA) - The number of foreign tourists coming toHCM City on cruise ships remains relatively low because of a lack of ports forcruise ships, according to tourism experts.
Many cruise ships have to dock at the neighbouring province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau becauseof the lack of harbours in the city.
Phu My Bridge across the Saigon River has a vertical clearance of 45metres, allowing only small ships with a capacity of fewer than 1,000passengers.
Large ships carrying thousands of passengers have to dock at Rau Qua, Navi Oil,and Hiep Phuoc ports which are too busy receiving container ships, their majorfunction. There is no space for cruise ships at these ports.
Large cruise ships have to anchor at Ba Ria- Vung Tau province and cruisepassengers must travel by bus to HCM City.
Earlier last month, Saigontourist Travel Service Company welcomed 3,600passengers on the World Dream cruise ship, which arrived at Tan Cang-Cai MepPort in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Passengers left the port by bus for a brief visit to HCM City beforeleaving for the coastal city of Nha Trang in the south-central province of KhanhHoa.
Phan Xuan Anh, Chairman of Viet Excursions, said that thousands of passengerswould spend more money if large cruise ships stayed overnight in HCM City.
If cruise ships dock at Ba Ria- Vung Tau, they visit HCM City and leave withina day, Anh said.
Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist, said that last year thecompany received 210 cruise ships visiting HCM City, Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Da Nang,Nha Trang, Thua Thien-Hue and Ha Long, with more than 400,000 tourists and crewmembers, an increase of 30 per cent compared to the previous year.
Besides a lack of cruise ports, travel-related services such as tax-free shops,money-exchange stores as well as entertainment and shopping centres should becreated or improved to offer cruise passengers more spending options, Taisaid.
La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Tourism, underscoredthe rising trend in cruise tourism around the world.
He said the lack of ports with sufficient capacity to serve large ships was dueto a failure in cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and localauthorities.
The city’s cruise industry would enjoy strong growth if the shortage of cruiseports and travel-related services are resolved, according to Khanh.-VNA
Many cruise ships have to dock at the neighbouring province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau becauseof the lack of harbours in the city.
Phu My Bridge across the Saigon River has a vertical clearance of 45metres, allowing only small ships with a capacity of fewer than 1,000passengers.
Large ships carrying thousands of passengers have to dock at Rau Qua, Navi Oil,and Hiep Phuoc ports which are too busy receiving container ships, their majorfunction. There is no space for cruise ships at these ports.
Large cruise ships have to anchor at Ba Ria- Vung Tau province and cruisepassengers must travel by bus to HCM City.
Earlier last month, Saigontourist Travel Service Company welcomed 3,600passengers on the World Dream cruise ship, which arrived at Tan Cang-Cai MepPort in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province.
Passengers left the port by bus for a brief visit to HCM City beforeleaving for the coastal city of Nha Trang in the south-central province of KhanhHoa.
Phan Xuan Anh, Chairman of Viet Excursions, said that thousands of passengerswould spend more money if large cruise ships stayed overnight in HCM City.
If cruise ships dock at Ba Ria- Vung Tau, they visit HCM City and leave withina day, Anh said.
Vo Anh Tai, Deputy General Director of Saigontourist, said that last year thecompany received 210 cruise ships visiting HCM City, Ba Ria- Vung Tau, Da Nang,Nha Trang, Thua Thien-Hue and Ha Long, with more than 400,000 tourists and crewmembers, an increase of 30 per cent compared to the previous year.
Besides a lack of cruise ports, travel-related services such as tax-free shops,money-exchange stores as well as entertainment and shopping centres should becreated or improved to offer cruise passengers more spending options, Taisaid.
La Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director of the city’s Department of Tourism, underscoredthe rising trend in cruise tourism around the world.
He said the lack of ports with sufficient capacity to serve large ships was dueto a failure in cooperation between the Ministry of Transport and localauthorities.
The city’s cruise industry would enjoy strong growth if the shortage of cruiseports and travel-related services are resolved, according to Khanh.-VNA
VNA
