On the afternoon of December 30, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism organized a dialogue conference with businesses. Here, many businesses proposed solutions related to tourism electricity prices, MICE tourism development and tourism promotion activities.
Ms. Huynh Phan Phuong Hoang - Deputy General Director of Vietravel Company said that the specific policy for MICE tourism in Ho Chi Minh City is currently a positive sign for tourism businesses. However, Ms. Hoang believes that it is necessary to simplify the procedures for applying for permission to organize MICE activities. Currently, the application for permission must be sent to the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Culture and Sports with a minimum processing time of 30 days.
I hope the Department of Tourism will strengthen connections with relevant departments and agencies to shorten the processing time of procedures, creating conditions for businesses to access and serve more tourist groups" - Ms. Hoang proposed.
Regarding river tourism, Mr. An Son Lam - Director of Dong Duong Sailing Co., Ltd. said that river tourism in Ho Chi Minh City has developed strongly recently, especially at the end of the year. However, the increasing number of visitors also leads to infrastructure overload, especially the shortage of wharves serving river tourism.
Piers and yards are a major problem for river tourism in Ho Chi Minh City for many years. The lack of piers and yards, along with the pressure of increasing costs every year, has pushed up service prices, affecting the development of river tourism in the city.
Mr. Lam suggested that the investment and construction of waterway wharves and yards can be socialized but need to be placed under state management to remove the current shortage of wharves and yards.
Regarding this content, Ms. Nguyen Thi Khanh - Chairwoman of the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association said that after merging with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Ho Chi Minh City has more potential and resources to develop river tourism. Currently, the Ho Chi Minh City tourism industry and businesses are gradually forming linked products to promote this type of tourism.
The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association continues to synthesize opinions from businesses to propose to the City People's Committee to issue appropriate policies, paving the way for river tourism development.
At the conference, Mr. Pham Huy Binh - Director of Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism acknowledged the contributions from the business community. Ho Chi Minh City Department of Tourism is committed to continuing to accompany businesses, contributing to promoting Ho Chi Minh City tourism and Vietnamese tourism development in the new period.
According to Mr. Binh, the goal set for 2026 is to achieve double-digit growth, even higher than the previous period. To complete this goal, the joint efforts and companionship of businesses are needed in the context of development space and the new position of the tourism industry.
