Conference scene
On the afternoon of July 10, the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism of Tra Vinh province, in collaboration with the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, conducted a mid-year review of the program for tourism development cooperation and association in the Eastern Cluster of the Mekong Delta. During the meeting, they also outlined the direction and tasks for the last 6 months of 2023.
The conference was attended by Vice Chairman of Tra Vinh Provincial People's Committee, Le Thanh Binh, Chairman of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, Tran Viet Phuong, as well as representatives from the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the Tourism Promotion Center of the 6 provinces within the Cluster, and travel businesses in Tra Vinh province.
The Eastern Cluster of the Mekong Delta includes the provinces of Tra Vinh, Ben Tre, Tien Giang, Long An, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long.
During the first six months, the total tourism revenue of the entire Cluster reached 4,340 billion VND, accounting for 69.24% of the 2023 plan and a remarkable 190% increase compared to the same period in 2022. The cluster successfully attracted over 6.3 million tourists, surpassing 65% of the yearly target and witnessing a growth of more than 150% compared to the same period in the previous year. Out of the total visitors, 400,000 were international tourists, while 5.9 million were domestic tourists.
Tra Vinh province, specifically, welcomed 1.1 million tourists during the first half of the year, contributing to a total revenue of 921 billion VND. This achievement significantly contributed to the Eastern Mekong Delta Cluster surpassing its planned targets.
Vice Chairman Le Thanh Binh attributed these positive results to the effective collaboration and cooperation among the provinces and tourism businesses in the region. Over time, the cluster has developed a cohesive image, promoted exchanges, enhanced solidarity, shared experiences, and provided mutual support in state management and tourism promotion, earning recognition and praise from the Mekong Delta Tourism Association.
Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Le Thanh Bình, speaking at the conference
However, Vice Chairman Le Thanh Binh also acknowledged that more efforts are needed to strengthen tourism development cooperation within the cluster. Currently, tourism promotion remains the primary approach to collaboration, and state management efforts need to progress beyond mere information exchange and experience sharing. Although the total tourism revenue has seen significant growth, it still does not fully reflect the tourism potential of each locality in the region.
Addressing the conference, Chairman Tran Viet Phuong of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association praised the achievements of the Eastern Mekong Delta Cluster. He called for the provinces to intensify communication and dissemination of new visa issuance regulations and the association's action plans. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of forming a strong Cluster Coordination Board and urged all provinces to actively participate in tourism promotion activities. Furthermore, he encouraged the continued development of iconic tourist attractions within the region.
Chairman of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, Tran Viet Phuong, delivering a speech
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Mekong Delta Tourism Association, Tran Viet Phuong, highly praised the achievements of the Eastern Mekong Delta Tourism Cluster. At the same time, he suggested that in the coming time, the provinces within the Cluster should intensify efforts in propaganda and dissemination of new regulations on visa issuance, as well as the action plans of the Association. He also emphasized the need to strengthen the establishment of the Cluster Coordination Board. Additionally, he proposed that all provinces should strive to fully participate in tourism promotion activities of the Cluster and continue to develop prominent tourist attractions in the region.
During this occasion, Chairman Tran Viet Phuong presented recognition certificates for two outstanding tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta to Ao Ba Om historical site and Huynh Kha eco-tourism site. As a result, Tra Vinh province now has a total of four recognized exemplary tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta. In addition to the two newly recognized sites, the province was previously acknowledged for President Ho Chi Minh's Temple historical site and the Con Chim community tourist site in 2022.
Presenting the recognition certificate for outstanding tourist destination in the Mekong Delta.
Phuong An
Hoang Khiem (translator)