At Bach Dang wharf (Photo: VNA) The city possesses valuable river-based tourism resources with aninland waterway system stretching 913 kilometres and 101 inland waterwayroutes, said Bui Hoa An, Deputy Director of the city’s Department ofTransportation.
These routes run through destinations in the city's downtown,making it convenient for large cruise ships to dock at Bach Dang wharf and NhaRong - Khanh Hoi port, he said at a recent conference held by the municipal People'sCommittee.
A total of 251 inland waterway ports are operating, including 73ports designed to serve tourists and passengers.
The city received 27.9 million domestic visitor arrivals and morethan 3.1 million international visitor arrivals in the first 11 months of thisyear, but only 340,000 visitors opted for cruising rivers, according to thecity’s Department of Tourism.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thao, head of tourism resources planning anddevelopment office under the Department of Tourism, said four major rivers – SaiGon, Dong Nai, Long Tau and Soai Rap – run through the city, forming a networkof waterway routes connecting the city with neighbouring provinces such as BinhDuong, Tay Ninh, Dong Nai, Long An, Tien Giang, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau.
These river-based tourism resources can be converted into productsto serve tourists, Thao said.
Assoc. Prof. Vu Anh Tuan from the Vietnamese-German Universitysaid that State funds set aside for developing waterway infrastructure remainsmodest.
Proper investment from the State budget and a master plan oninland waterway development are needed to exploit the potential of river-basedtourism, he said.
A representative from Saigontourist Travel Service Companyproposed that a public-private partnership be vital to develop a wide range ofriver tourism products and services that can be readily offered to domestic andinternational tourists.
Bui Xuan Cuong, Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee,said that the city would focus on efforts to develop inland waterway transportand river-based tourism in the years ahead.
Legal frameworks and policies will be put in place to developports and docking facilities as well as attract investors to exploit inlandwaterway transport and river-based tourism, he said./.
VNA
