Illustrative image (Source: VNA) HCM City (VNA) – Ho Chi Minh City aims to become one of Asia’s leading metropolitan tourist destinations by 2030, where visitors can experience unique values of local cultural heritage and lifestyle.
The target was set in the draft strategy on the city’s tourism development to 2030 that was tabled for discussion at a seminar held by the municipal Department of Tourism on February 20.
Deputy Director of the department Vo Thi Ngoc Thuy said tourism is projected to contribute 17 percent to the southern economic hub’s gross regional domestic product (GRDP), and tourism turnover will rise 107 percent as compared to present.
The document outlines a key strategy for the local tourism sector based on market orientations and development, which identifies major tourism products, and directions for management of tourism destination quality, infrastructure development, marketing and brand names, investment and policy, and scientific and technological application in tourism.
John Low, Senior Partner of Roland Berger’s Southeast Asia Office, suggested HCM City roll out different tourism strategies and products to serve the diverse customer segments in Southeast Asia.
He recommended the city should focus on three major tourism products – culture and heritage, cuisines and shopping, in line with its potential.
At the seminar, representatives of travel companies said tourism value chain plays an important role in developing tourism products, suggesting the city improve its tourism support network and infrastructure, and invest more in building tourism brand names./.
VNA
