The tourism industry of Vinh Long province has made a remarkable progress with many new high-quality products and services. In the coming time, the province will invest to develop tourism into a key economic sector to play a more important role in local socio-economic development. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Pham Van Huong, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Vinh Long province regarding local tourism. An An reports.
How are the role and position of the tourism industry in the economic structure of Vinh Long province? What will the province do to develop tourism?
Vinh Long tourism will be developed into a key economic sector. At present, the hospitality industry created more than 2,600 jobs and contributed approximately 2.3 percent to the province’s gross domestic product (GDP).
To develop tourism services, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism is submitting to the Provincial People’s Committee the tourism development strategy for the period till 2020, with a vision to 2030. On that basis, the department will work out a project to develop tourism on the Tien River and the Hau River routes to facilitate localities to work out their tourism development plans.
In addition, the department focuses on building community-based eco-tourism development models in An Binh commune, Long Ho district. This model has been approved for implementation by the Provincial People’s Committee and chosen as one of four example models in the country by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
Vinh Long signed a tourism development cooperation programme with Ho Chi Minh City and is about to sign similar tourism development cooperation programmes with five localities of Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Ben Tre, Tra Vinh and Can Tho. This is an important foundation for Vinh Long province to strengthen connectivity with other localities to develop and diversify tourism services. Furthermore, the province has plans to upgrade Ong Tien Temple Festival in Thien My commune, Tra On district to make a highlight on the Hau River tour.
Currently, 80 percent of tourism units in Vinh Long province are family-run, typically poorly connected, simple accommodation services, and lack of support services. How will the province address these shortcomings?
Apart from potentials and advantages, the tourism industry of Vinh Long province also has many limitations, particularly the lack of linkage of tourism companies, new product development and diversification. To address these limitations to prolong the length of stay and increase the value of tourism products, the tourism sector of Vinh Long province has adopted a number of solutions raised at a conference on linking tourism companies, promoting ecological water world and gardening tourism. Specifically, the province focuses on perfecting functionality of the Steering Committee for Tourism Development, guides phased tourism development plans, and direct branches and localities to build infrastructure for tourism development like community-based tourism models, cultural tourism, and spiritual tourism. The province also organises training courses for tourism workers in order to diversify products.
The province will attract investment capital for tourism development to have high-quality services to meet higher demand of tourists. It also encourages tourism businesses to improve service quality, introduce tourism products to high-income tourists, and increase incomes for tourism workers. It also strengthens tourism advertisement and promotion activities and asks tourism companies to prepare products, profiles, documentations and ads to attend tourism products in the province and other localities. Especially, the province encourages online advertisement and sale.
In addition, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism will actively coordinate with the Department of Transport to ensure secure tourist transportation and upgrade reception service for tourists on pleasure boats which tend to increase on the Tien and Hau Rivers.
In 2013, the tourism industry of Vinh Long province targets to serve 950,000 tourists. Is the province confident to achieve the goal? Could you tell us about the achievements the tourism industry has gained since the start of 2013, including tourist arrivals and revenue?
In the first quarter of 2013, Vinh Long welcomed 217,000 tourists, equal to 22 percent of the plan set for 2013 and down 1 percent from the same period in 2012. Particularly, the province saw 41,500 international tourist arrivals, equal to 20 percent of the yearly plan and down 20 percent year on year, and 175 500 domestic tourist arrivals, equal to 23 percent of the full-year plan and up 4 percent year on year. Tourism revenue grossed VND54 billion in the quarter, equal to 27 percent of the yearly plan and up 18 percent year on year.
In 2013, Vinh Long province targets to draw 950,000 tourists. We are completely confident to achieve this target because we have well-known ecological water world and garden tourism which is rated secure and friendly destination. In addition, the tourism sector has established two international tours and many domestic tours for tourists with various forms of service like relaxation, picnicking, entertainment, water sporting, gastronomic culture discovery and folklore culture discovery. These are the foundation for the development of Vinh Long province’s tourism.
Recently, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) launched a tourism stimulus programme for 2013. This was seen as an opportunity for local tourism businesses to introduce tourism programmes and new products to attract travellers during festival time and downtime season. Especially in 2013, the province has many important events that may increase tourist arrivals, including MDEC - Vinh Long 2013. Besides, tourism promotion activities will also bring more tourists to Vinh Long province.
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