Poor infrastructure and human resources, worsened by cumbersomeimmigration procedures, have limited tourism development in the GreaterMekong Subregion, which includes Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
Caravan tours between cultural and historic sites in the three countries have faced challenges.
During a recent "investigation trip" by officials, they discoveredthat roads from the bordergate in Vietnam to Cambodia's Kratie extend230km but are not in good condition.
In addition, many enterprises want to organise tours but have been unable to do so because of immigration procedures.
"We need strong links between the three nations to deal withimmigration. In addition, more investment for infrastructure, includingroads, services and rest stops, is needed," said Ho Tan Cuong, vicedirector of central Quang Nam Province's Culture, Sports and TourismDepartment, who took part in the investigation trip with otherofficials.
He suggested a tourism route that couldbegin or end at Angkor Wat in Cambodia to Laos' Vat Phou temple, to theCentral Highland provinces in Vietnam to learn about the gong culture.The final stop could be the My Son sanctuary and the historic town ofHoi An in central Vietnam.
"Tourists could enjoythe cultural values of three countries via road and air," Cuong added."Tourism on roads from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia is now convenient.Good tourism services along with good cultural preservation attractstourists."
In addition, Cambodia and Laos have become more attractive to many Vietnamese tourists.
For the first 10 months of the year, more than 700,000 Vietnamese visited Cambodia.
This represented 21 percent of international tourists in Cambodia, anincrease of 11.5 percent compared to the same period last year, and thehighest proportion of foreign tourists.
Poor co-operation between authorities of the three countries has also hindered tourism potential in the subregion.
"Tourism development co-operation has been negotiated since 1994.Enterprises have been asked to take part in programmes and morenegotiations between governments and the private sector wereencouraged," said Tran Phu Cuong, deputy head of the Tourism Authority'sInternational Co-operation Department.
At the 32ndannual meeting on tourism development among the three countries, heldin Kampot, Cambodia, early this month, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)announced a support loan of 100 million USD for tourism infrastructureprojects in the subregion.
The funds will be usedfor seaport construction, waste water treatment for tourism areas, greentours on sea, and tourism development with the participation of localcommunities.
"We would like to connect allauthorities and policymakers in these three countries in order tofurther investment opportunities," Phuong Huu Viet, chairman of theVietnam-Laos-Cambodia Association for Economic Co-operation Development,said.-VNA
Caravan tours between cultural and historic sites in the three countries have faced challenges.
During a recent "investigation trip" by officials, they discoveredthat roads from the bordergate in Vietnam to Cambodia's Kratie extend230km but are not in good condition.
In addition, many enterprises want to organise tours but have been unable to do so because of immigration procedures.
"We need strong links between the three nations to deal withimmigration. In addition, more investment for infrastructure, includingroads, services and rest stops, is needed," said Ho Tan Cuong, vicedirector of central Quang Nam Province's Culture, Sports and TourismDepartment, who took part in the investigation trip with otherofficials.
He suggested a tourism route that couldbegin or end at Angkor Wat in Cambodia to Laos' Vat Phou temple, to theCentral Highland provinces in Vietnam to learn about the gong culture.The final stop could be the My Son sanctuary and the historic town ofHoi An in central Vietnam.
"Tourists could enjoythe cultural values of three countries via road and air," Cuong added."Tourism on roads from Vietnam to Laos and Cambodia is now convenient.Good tourism services along with good cultural preservation attractstourists."
In addition, Cambodia and Laos have become more attractive to many Vietnamese tourists.
For the first 10 months of the year, more than 700,000 Vietnamese visited Cambodia.
This represented 21 percent of international tourists in Cambodia, anincrease of 11.5 percent compared to the same period last year, and thehighest proportion of foreign tourists.
Poor co-operation between authorities of the three countries has also hindered tourism potential in the subregion.
"Tourism development co-operation has been negotiated since 1994.Enterprises have been asked to take part in programmes and morenegotiations between governments and the private sector wereencouraged," said Tran Phu Cuong, deputy head of the Tourism Authority'sInternational Co-operation Department.
At the 32ndannual meeting on tourism development among the three countries, heldin Kampot, Cambodia, early this month, the Asian Development Bank (ADB)announced a support loan of 100 million USD for tourism infrastructureprojects in the subregion.
The funds will be usedfor seaport construction, waste water treatment for tourism areas, greentours on sea, and tourism development with the participation of localcommunities.
"We would like to connect allauthorities and policymakers in these three countries in order tofurther investment opportunities," Phuong Huu Viet, chairman of theVietnam-Laos-Cambodia Association for Economic Co-operation Development,said.-VNA
