A performance of kylin and dragon dances at the Garden Mall in HCM City’s District 5. Kylin and dragon dances are performed twice a month to serve domestic and foreign visitors. (Photo: VNA) The city’s Tourism Development Strategy from now until 2030would highlight the vital role of historic and cultural heritageattractions in the development of tourism products, said Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu,deputy director of the city’s Department of Tourism.
The tourism sector had been conducting surveys on historic and culturalheritage attractions citywide and coordinating with local authorities to putthem into tour packages, Hieu said.
The strategy outlined a plan to build night-time tourism products andservices and exploit the potential of the nighttime economy, she said at atelevision programme entitled “People Ask-HCM City Authorities Answer” onOctober 9.
The departments of tourism and culture and sports have worked together todevelop cultural and art performance programmes to serve tourists, including donca tai tu (southern folk music), hat boi (classical drama), and cai luong(reformed opera) performances.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Thuy, deputy director of the city Department of Culture andSports, said the Phu Tho circus and multi-purpose performing centre project inthe city’s District 11 would begin construction this year.
Renovation of existing theatres would also be carried out soon to provide moreplaces for art performances to serve tourists, Thuy said.
Tran The Dung, director of Fiditour, said many historic and cultural heritageattractions had not met the requirements to serve tourists due to a lack ofappropriate investment.
The tourism authorities needed to make specific plansto connect historic and cultural heritage attractions in districts tomake them unique tourism products, Dung said.
There was a lack of nighttime entertainment activities and large artperformances to serve tourists, he said.
Cao Thanh Binh, head of the People’s Council’s socio-culture board, said thecity had not yet realised its huge potential for cultural tourism.
"The city is home to 185 relics, of which only 40 relics are exploited ascultural heritage attractions," Binh said./.
VNA
