Provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta were asked to take advantage of their favourable natural conditions to develop green and ecological tourism, a great and untapped potential.

Addressing the Green Tourism Week titled ‘A Green Southwest’ which opened in Cai Rang district in Can Tho city on June 29, Deputy Prime Minister and Head of the Southwest Steering Committee Vu Van Ninh asked regional provinces to seek suitable solutions to make the most of their natural potential.

The provinces were urged to boost links and create a chain of tourist destinations, meeting tourists’ growing demand and increasingly diverse tastes.

The Deputy PM hinted that localities could develop high quality and highly competitive tourist products with particular brand identities such as ecological tourism, island tourism, garden and river tours and conference and meeting tours.

According to Deputy PM Ninh, the tourism sector in the region needs major breakthroughs and to improve its professionalism while preserving traditions and promoting unique national values.

In addition to capital from the State, the Deputy PM noted the provinces could mobilise capital from society for modernising infrastructure to ensure green, clean and beautiful features meeting international standards and serving socio-economic development and the tourism industry in particular.

Training a high-quality workforce is another aspect the Deputy PM demanded focus on from the localities in addition to promoting a civilised and polite lifestyle in local communities.

Green Tourism Week 2015, which is underway in Can Tho from June 27 to July 3, includes an Exhibition Fair with 1,030 booths, a food festival and a street festival, among other events.

On the sidelines of the Mekong Delta Green Tourism Week, there are conferences calling for investors for the region’s green tourism sector or boosting connections among provinces.-VNA