Dong Thap (VNS/VNA) - DongThap provincewill take a number of measures to attract tourists after the COVID-19 pandemicis fully controlled, according to theprovincial People’s Committee.

The first green shoots of recovery were visible when thenumber of visitors to the province increased by 21 percent from May to 153,899.

It had plummeted by 39 percent year-on-year in May to 126,895.

The People's Committee said during the rest of this year, theprovince would focus on developing roads, transportation and accommodation,especially around popular tourist attractions, and facilitate packaged tours.

It would evaluate each tourist area to focus on theirspecialities but also diversify their products and services, and develop theirbrands, it said.

It is set to roll out a year-long programme called‘Stimulating tourism in 2020’ to promote tourism during national and otherholidays and festivals such as those to mark 60 years of Vietnam's tourismindustry, National Day on September 2, the death anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh's father Nguyen Sinh Sac, Culture and Tourism Week,and the Sa DecFlower Festival.

Ngo QuangTuyen, Deputy Director of the provincial Department ofCulture, Sports and Tourism, said the quality of services would be improved tomeet the needs of visitors and discounts and promotions would be offered toboost domestic tourism.

The province would also encourage tourism businesses, hotelsand tourist destinations to offer various promotions, he said.

Dong Thap is considered to have great tourism potential dueto its abundance of historical sites, cultural values and rich eco-systems.

It boasts popular tourist attractions like the Tram Chim tourism area, Xeo Quyt relic site, Thap Muoi lotus field, Sa Dec flower village, andhomestays.

Many of them allow tourists to experience the life of localsthrough activities such as harvesting rice, fishing with nets, tendingvegetables, and catching ducks.

They can also enjoy camping, boating and rural foods, andvisit handicrafts villages.

The Thap Muoi lotus field offers manyfoods made from lotuses, and has become one of the most popular weekendattractions for people in the delta and HCM City.

Community-based tourism is also seeing rapid development withhouseholds and villages investing billions of đồng in newer tourism activitiessuch as homestay services and fruit harvesting.

Last year, Dong Thap attracted around 3.9 million visitorswho spent more than 1.05 trillion VND (45million USD),according to its Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism./.