They called for investment at the 5th annual Mekong Invest Conference hosted in Can Tho city by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry in coordination with Mekong Delta Promotion Club (MekongPC).
At the conference, the organization board introduced potentials, opportunities and advantages to develop tourism; analyzed and estimated the development demand of infrastructure and tourist destinations.
Mekong Delta Tourism Association reported that the region’s tourist industry has posted the growth rate of 10 percent a year for the last eight years. The rate covers the number of visitors, duration of stay and revenue.
Infrastructure for tourist development has been more and more invested and tourist companies have been developing.
According to the Mekong Delta tourist development plan by 2020 approved by the Prime Minister, the delta will receive 34 million visitors with tourist revenue reaching VND25 trillion. By 2030, the region will receive 52 million tourists and get VND111 trillion.
By 2020, it will have 53,000 hotel rooms which will increase to 100,000 by 2030. Of these, 30 percent will meet three to five star levels.
At present, the region has only 60 three to five star hotels with 30,000 rooms, concentrating in Phu Quoc Island and Can Tho city.
There are two large amusement sites namely Vinpearl Phu Quoc and Nha Mat resort in Bac Lieu province and one large rest stop in Tien Giang province, Mekong Rest Stop. There is neither cuisine in combination with amusement center over large scale nor big shopping mall.
Mr. Truong Hoai Nam, deputy chairman of the Can Tho city People’s Committee, traffic must be first mentioned in infrastructure development for tourism. The Mekong Delta’s special characteristic is tangled canal and river system so waterway tourist development will bring specific efficiency for the region.
At present, waterway traffic in the region is short of connectivity, routes and boats and wharfs so it has been unattractive to domestic and foreign visitors.
The Mekong Delta Tourist Association proposed the Government and aviation companies to have a mechanism for Can Tho Airport to open domestic flights in central and Central Highlands provinces and some international flights to East and Southeast Asia regions to facilitate visitors’ travel to the city.
In addition, the Government should pay more attention to developing highways in the delta and waterway traffic infrastructures to promote the region’s strength.
