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TT - Tourism in HCM City will lose hundreds of millions of dollars a year if not to put the waterway tourism in time into promoting strategy and development products. It is more important than if waterway tourism is the fastest way solving problems about environment, make the face of the city beautiful.
Scene "on the wharf under the boat, " Binh Dong wharf area, HCM City has been died since opening East - West Avenue - Photo: HTV
Actually, river tourism in HCMC has been exploited in recent years but still very small scale and scattered. With transportation, besides the team of boats, canoes specialized; more than ten restaurant vessels operating nightly at Bach Dang Wharf. However, it is presently hard to find products introduced river tour offered at the travel company!
Therefore, so that tourism products by waterway take form and develop, we should focus elements such as building jetties, investment means of transport (ships, boats and yachts ... ) form visiting routes, the logistics service, recruitment, training and professional human resource and forming associations of companies and individuals operating in the sector, firstly team of Saigon Yacht.
The immediate and important task that we can reorganize, building jetties, piers and other associated services, particularly three areas in Bach Dang Wharf, Thanh Da and Nha Be. State will implement planning, but investment & exploitation should be encouraged & developed by enterprises with the form of socialization.
To be known in 2010, the city will have more than 20 yachts equipped with advanced international standards (millions of USD value per unit). This is the means purchased by individuals, businesses as a means of relaxation, resort, river trip combining business type of travel on the Saigon River and some neighboring localities. Thus, if the number of these yachts plus team of canoes, boats, restaurant vessels in the city, the first step we have solved an important issue.
For the products, focusing initially exploited tours in the inner city and tours connecting neighboring provinces.
Tour in the inner city should be held regularly recurring lines of Bach Dang - Thanh Da, Bach Dang- Nha Be, around the peninsula Thanh Da - Binh Quoi, Bach Dang- Tau Hu channel - Dia canal - Phu Xuan –Nha Be cross-road – Artists Village in which the route of Bach Dang - Thanh Da, Bach Dang - Nha Be can be favorable to exploit day & night.
Visiting route in Can Gio Biosphere Reserve from Bach Dang Wharf connection between primary forests – rivers, canals and the sea will be the outstanding products, providing high distinctness.
One of other points needs to be exploited is the route Tau Hu - Ben Nghe Ward along East-West Avenue; this area is focused many ancient houses, if the source of water is settled well, the ideal picture of Sai Gon - Gia Dinh "on the wharf under the boat" of the former fathers will be reappear. And the route Tau Hu - Ben Nghe is also ideal one for us to organize the product "city tour on the river".
Inter-provincial tours need to associate and exploit advantages of the neighboring provinces in two regions of the eastern and the southwest, namely Binh Duong, Dong Nai, Long An, Tien Giang, Vinh Long, Can Tho ...
To develop ecological tourism associated river life and local culture, the traditional villages, southern folk cuisine will be a correct & sustainable direction of travel in HCM City.
NGUYỄN HỮU THỌ
(President of HCM City Tourism Association, General Director of Saigontourist)
Published on Tuoi Tre Newspaper July 7th 2010 |
