Collaboration in tourism development between Can Tho and South East Asian countries.

Vice Chairman Nguyen Thuc Hien (third from left) with members of the Philippines Tourism Association.

On the afternoon of September 6, 2022, Vice Chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien hosted a meeting with the delegation of Tourism Associations of Southeast Asian countries to survey tourism cooperation in Can Tho. The delegation had representatives from Tourism Associations of Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines through the coordination and connection of Hoa Hao - Medic Can Tho General Hospital  and HieuTour Co.Ltd.

The delegation had had 2 days to experience tourism activities in Can Tho, from eco-tourism to medical tourism, visiting Ninh Kieu Quay, Son islet community tourism. At the meeting, the delegation members shared their testimonies and highly appreciated the tourism potential of Can Tho, especially the types of resort tourism, agricultural tourism combined with medical tourism and MICE. Can Tho's infrastructure is highly appreciated for meeting the needs of the Southeast Asian market. In particular, Can Tho has an international airport, which is convenient to connect to other tourism centers. Representatives of the associations proposed connecting flights from Can Tho to Indonesia, the Philippines and Cambodia. They also committed to support Can Tho in promoting and connecting potential markets in Southeast Asia. In addition, the delegates suggested that Can Tho focus on investing in a variety of tourism products, training tourism staff who can speak English, transport infrastructure (railway and airway), restaurants with Halal certificate, etc.

Talking at the meeting, Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien shared that in the first 8 months of this year, Can Tho had attracted more than 200,000 international visitors, including countries in Southeast Asia such as Cambodia, Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia, which led the number of visitors to the city. Furthermore, Can Tho is focusing on building infrastructure and calling for investment in tourism with An Giang and Kien Giang, developing plans to attract international visitors in collaboration with Bac Lieu, Ca Mau and Soc Trang with plans for historical and religious tourism. The Vice Chairman directed the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to act as the focal point, coordinate with relevant departments and agencies, as well as Tourism Associations of Southeast Asian countries to develop projects on promoting and linking international tourist markets. Mr. Nguyen Thuc Hien committed that the city had noted the suggestions and recommendations of the delegates, and would work closely with the Ministry of Transport to propose to open international flights to accelerate the recovery and development of the international tourism market.