At the workshop, Director of HCMC Department of Tourism Bui Ta Hong Vu said that the development of waterway tourism in HCMC is still not matched with the city’s potential and available advantages due to lack of jetties, waiting halls, harbors, etc. At the same time, the city is facing difficulties like seriously polluted water source, encroachment of canals, monotonous landscape, etc.

According to experts, with available advantages of Saigon and Dong Nai Rivers plus connected canal systems, HCMC needs to bring into play this advantage to create a tourism picture of “harbor above-boat under”, making it more attractive to international and domestic tourists. Many suggested HCMC Department of Tourism to build the image of HCMC’s tourism as “not coming to HCMC, not coming to Vietnam”

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong said the city has defined tourism as its key economic sector with high value added services. However, in order to make it, the city needs to diversify its tourism products to lure tourists.

He stressed that the diversification of tourism products is very necessary for the city to retain tourists. In the coming time, HCMC Department of Tourism need to complete its waterway tourism development scheme, to coordinate with relevant departments and agencies, tourism companies to review waterway traffic separation, to create airy space for tourists to enjoy the landscapes of the city.

With the determination of HCMC’s leaders plus close coordination of relevant departments and agencies, consensus of tourism companies, it is expected that the city’s waterway tourism will further develop and become a pride of HCMC’s citizens when introducing tourist products to international visitors.

HCM CITYWEB