Linking for tourism development

In order to implement the "Agreement on cooperation to develop tourism in the Southeast region for the period of 2020-2025", Binh Duong provincial Tourism Promotion Center and Tourism Association have just coordinated with tourism units of Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces to conduct a survey on tourist destinations in the three provinces. This is one of the activities jointly carried out by the tourism sectors of the three provinces to link and create opportunities to promote tourism development in each locality.

One route - 3 destinations

With the theme of "One route - 3 destinations", the survey had more than 50 participants, including representatives of travel companies, tourism experts, media units, related professions and services. During this survey, the delegation visited and experienced typical tourist destinations and services of "3 destinations", including Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces to consider and form up tours to serve tourists in the future.

The survey delegation visits the Phu Thinh Kawazo eco-tourism area

This time, Binh Duong province’s tourism sector has chosen destinations associated with river tours to promote tourism linkage. Nguyen Duc Minh, Director of provincial Tourism Promotion Center said that the purpose of organizing this survey was to introduce the local river tourism potential to other provinces, cities and travel agencies. This survey was relatively large compared to the previous ones, with the linkage of three provinces in the Southeastern region.

Departing from Ho Chi Minh city by river bus, delegates arrived in Binh Duong and were picked up at Tiamo Phu Thinh marina in Thu Dau Mot city. From this marina, delegates began going to places along the Saigon River to visit and experience. Currently, this tour also receives great interest from leaders of provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Specifically, during this survey, the delegation visited places such as Kawazo Phu Thinh eco-tourism area, Minh Long Ceramics Company’s showroom, Dai Nam tourist complex, Binh Duong new city, Tuong Binh Hiep lacquerware village, Hoi Khanh pagoda, Binh Duong Fine Arts - Culture Intermediate School, Becamex hotel. In Binh Phuoc province, the delegation continued surveying points, including Ta Thiet Base Area Historical Site, Truc Lam Binh Phuoc Zen Monastery, Van Thanh Pagoda. Survey points in Tay Ninh province included Tay Ninh Holy See, the Central Office for South Vietnam, Ba Den Mountain.

After the survey, delegates, tourism experts and travel agencies discussed, contributed ideas and came up with practical solutions to perfect and improve the quality of tourism products and services in each locality. That not only helps the provinces welcome more tourists, promoting tourism development, but also positively contributes to the overall development of tourism in the Southeastern region in the coming time. Mr. Minh said: "The main purpose of this round is to invite all travel companies in the country to participate in surveing the destinations and specific tourism products of the three provinces. On that basis, travel companies will design tours to tap and bring tourists to Binh Duong and the provinces in this survey".

Joining hands to develop tourism

Along with results done, the activities of Binh Duong province’s tourism sector have still faced many difficulties and challenges. Many activities and solutions have been implemented by the local tourism sector, including linking and connecting tourism development with provinces and cities in the Southeastern region.

The purpose of this survey is to connect destinations so that travel companies can see the tourism strengths of Binh Duong province as well as Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh. Upon this, the units will set up tours, promoting tourism in the three provinces. Truong Van Hien, Head of Binh Duong Travel Association branch under provincial Tourism Association, Director of Phuong Nam Travel Services Company in Thu Dau Mot city said: “This tourism survey is very interesting and meaningful, thereby helping travel companies form up tours to serve tourists right in the upcoming summer. Hopefully, Binh Duong will become an attractive tourist destination in the future, especially tourists will stay in Binh Duong for at least 1 night to feel and use the local tourism products", Mr. Hien share.

Not only having friendly and hospitable people, Binh Duong’s tourism products were also evaluated to be quite diverse by this survey. Hopefully after this survey, the number of tourists brought to Binh Duong by travel companies will continue increasing. Tran Tuan Hung, Chairman of provincial Tourism Association said that Binh Duong's advantage is close to the largest economic center in the country, but there are still inconvenient things, including the formation of docks. Currently, only Tiamo Phu Thinh marina can welcome tourists to Binh Duong by waterway.

“Ho Chi Minh city’s tourism sector also wants Binh Duong to have more convenient wharves. For example, Bach Dang wharf is near Thu market. This will be more convenient for cruise ships and boats to dock and move tourists to nearby tourist sites more easily. River tourism is a huge advantage of Binh Duong. Hopefully, the local authorities, relevant departments and agencies will create conditions to soon have convenient boat wharves to welcome tourists, promoting the local river tourism", Mr. Hung said.

Reported by Hong Thuan-Translated by Kim Tin