HCM City and the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta’s 12 provinces and a city ink a comprehensive tourism deal at the second HCM City and Mekong Delta Tourism Connection Forum on Saturday in Bạc Liêu Province. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — HCM City and the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta’s 12 provinces and the Cần Thơ City for the first time inked a comprehensive agreement for tourism development at the second HCM City and Mekong Delta Tourism Connection Forum.

The tie-up will focus on six areas, including exchange of tourism information, tourism marketing and promotion, development of tourism human resources and tourism products, and investment in tourism infrastructure. 

The president of the new council, Nguyễn Thành Phong, chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee, said at the forum, held in Bạc Liêu Province on Saturday, that the co-operation is expected to lay a concrete foundation for sustainable tourism linkages and create a breakthroughs in the tourism development in both areas.

The budget the Government sets aside for transport infrastructure remains modest compared to economic growth, he said.

Increasing the investment in infrastructure in HCM City and the Mekong Delta is important, he said.

Nguyễn Thiện Nhân, secretary of the city's Party Committee, said tourism linkages would lead to mutual benefit and meet the demands of travellers.

HCM City is one of the leading tourist destinations in Việt Nam, with the number of its tourist arrivals accounting for half the country’s total.

This year the city is expected to receive 8.5 million tourists.  

As the country’s economic hub, it has great potential for MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions and Exhibitions) and shopping tourism.

It also plays a vital role in tourism education in line with international standards.

The delta is home to huge natural and cultural resources unlike HCM City.

The co-operation will help address the severe shortage of tourism human resources in Mekong Delta.

Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Lê Quang Tùng said the co-operation would fuel tourism development in both areas.

His ministry would back localities in executing a series of deals under it such as investment by the private sector in tourism and development of tourism infrastructure, he said.

Dương Thành Trung, chairman of Bạc Liêu Province's People’s Committee, said the delta’s tourism growth remains modest considering its huge potential in terms of natural and cultural resources.

It still lacks tourist attractions of international standards, he said.

Võ Anh Tài, deputy general director of Saigontourist, said HCM City travel firms are seeking to foster co-operation with delta localities to tap the huge tourism potential there. — VNS