The travel industry is facing many difficulties due to COVID-19, in which Can Tho City and the Mekong Delta as a whole are suffering from the continuous decline in the number of arrivals and revenue. To turn challenges into growth opportunities, in Can Tho, the tourism industry recently organized a seminar entitled “Vietnam tourism- A bright destination” and a talk-show called “Post COVID-19 promotion for the Mekong Delta tourism from a strategy linking aviation and tourism”.

According to the statistics from the Can Tho City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in the first six months of 2020, the total number of tourists to the city and revenue decreased by 69.7% and 62.1% respectively against the same period last year. The number of domestic flights was only 3,526, a decrease of 17%; the number of domestic visitors was 523,205, down 24% from the same period last year.

Passengers left the plane at Can Tho Airport.

Can Tho is arguably a gateway into the Mekong Delta, acting as a transit and coordination center for travelers. On average, Can Tho Airport serves about 120 domestic return flights a week, connecting Can Tho with Ha Noi, Da Nang, Khanh Hoa, Hai Phong, Phu Quoc, Con Dao, Vinh, Nghe An, and so on. Lately, Vietnam Airlines officially opened 4 new routes: Can Tho- Hai Phong, Can Tho- Vinh, Can Tho- Buon Ma Thuot, and Can Tho- Da Lat (operated on 2 July).

“Can Tho tourism needs timely measures to keep pace with the new situation. That Vietnam Airlines launched new domestic services and held “Vietnam tourism- A bright destination” seminar is practical to gradually revive the travel industry post COVID-19. It also helps to attract investors to the locality, laying a solid foundation for restoring Can Tho’s and the Mekong Delta’s economy,” Vice Chairman of the Can Tho City People’s Committee Duong Tan Hien said.

“Favorable aviation connection will facilitate the economic and tourism development in the Mekong Delta,” Deputy Director of Vietnam National Administration of Tourism Ha Van Sieu added. Specifically, the event that Vietnam Airlines signed tourism development cooperation agreements with provinces and cities like Can Tho, Lam Dong, Nghe An, Hai Phong, Dak Lak has further accelerated travel, initially for domestic tourists, and in the future for international ones.

Le Hong Ha, Deputy General Director of Vietnam Airlines, said the Mekong Delta in general and Can Tho in particular are potential markets with high economic growth, dense population and many investment projects. Through above-mentioned domestic routes, Vietnam Airlines expects to enhance the position of Can Tho Airport and contribute to the local economic and tourism growth as the whole country is joining hands to recover tourism and economy.

To make full use of the new air routes and lure tourists to Can Tho as well as the Mekong Delta, many tourism activities will be held in the city, according to Nguyen Khanh Tung, Director of the Can Tho City Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

A set of tourism events will take place in Can Tho from 3 to 5 July like the 6-month review conference on tourism development cooperation between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and city in the Mekong Delta; Famtrip examining Can Tho tourism destinations, products and services; “Impressive Vietnam tourism” event; etc.

Currently, tourism is recovering, but at slow speed. Therefore, it is believed that the participation of the aviation industry, the cooperation of tourism businesses, and the support from local authorities will quickly boost the recovery of domestic travel in the coming time.

AI LAM (Translated by AI LINH)