Can Tho (VNA) – Can Tho has exerted greatefforts to reach its goal of making tourism a spearhead industry for the MekongDelta city.

According to Director of the municipal Department ofCulture, Sports, and Tourism Tran Viet Phuong, Can Tho has posted a growth rateof 20 percent in tourist arrivals and 28 percent in tourism revenue each year overthe last three consecutive years.

The city is expected to welcome around 8 million visitorsthis year, up 70.2 percent from 4.7 million from 2015. Revenue from tourism isestimated to reach 3.5 trillion VND (151 million USD).

The city has diversified its tours, tourism products, andservices, as well as improved its infrastructure for the industry.

The city had an additional 26 hotels this year comparedto 2016, including eight rated from four- to five-stars. A variety of nationaland international cultural events and festivals have been organised in thecity, attracting large numbers of visitors.

Furthermore, the city has put more focus on enhancing thequality of local tourism workers, with some 20 training courses opened for over800 people in the industry, bringing its proportion of trained workers up to 52percent.

Phuong also outlined several problems with the localtourism sector that have hindered the city’s efforts to bring its potentialinto full play. He believed that local tourism products have lacked originalityand do not offer the same attraction, making them less competitive compared tothose of other regional provinces. Meanwhile the city also has a lack ofcapable personnel and effective cooperation to carry out tourism promotionactivities.

To solve these issues, Can Tho should give priority todeveloping signature tourism products, such as meetings, incentives,conferences, and exhibitions (MICE) tours; community-based tours; and tours toexplore local cultural and historical heritages.

The city plans to build and renovate more hotels,restaurants, shopping malls, supermarkets, and other features to better serveMICE tours and at the same time, expand the annual southern traditional cakefestival.

It is also inviting investment in eight key tourismprojects and developing more river tours that connect to Ho Chi Minh City, PhuQuoc, Con Dao, Ca Mau, and Cambodia.

Can Tho expects that airlines will soon launch newservices connecting the city with Hai Phong, Vinh cities and Thailand’s Bangkokin the near future.

At the heart of the Mekong Delta, Can Tho is designed tobe one of seven tourism hubs of Vietnam under the national master plan fortourism development until 2020 with a vision to 2030.

Major tourist destinations of Can Tho include Cai Rangfloating market, Ninh Kieu bridge, Ninh Kieu port, Truc Lam Zen Pagoda, MyKhanh eco-tourism village, Lung Cot Cau and Lung Tram tourist areas, and MienTay bird park.–VNA