HCM CITY (VNS) — The collaboration between An Giang, Kien Giang and Can Tho in the Mekong Delta for responsible tourism development was reviewed at a workshop held in Kien Giang province last Friday.
The event was organised with technical support from the EU – funded Environmentally and Socially Responsible Tourism Capacity Development (EU-ESRT) Programme.
At the opening session, a representative of the Kien Giang Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism reviewed last year's outcomes.
A plan for responsible tourism this year, with a focus on the “National Tourism Year 2016 – Phu Quoc – Mekong Delta” and called “Discovery of the Southern Land” was tabled at the workshop by Kien Giang tourism authorities.
A spokesman for the EU-ESRT Programme spoke about the development of tourism products in the three Mekong provinces and demand for tourism workers and activities to support tourism destination management in 2016.
According to a report from the EU-ESRT Programme to support the Mekong provinces in sustainable development of responsible tourism in 2013 –15, it focused on establishing and putting into operation multi-component destination management organisation.
The support also included development of a public-private dialogue (PPD), enhancing the role of provincial tourism associations, development of responsible tourism products, promotion of regional destinations and providing training courses for capacity development.
For development of PPD, local tourism associations' participation in the working group, technical meetings of the standing committee, technical working groups and conferences and workshops on tourism development were encouraged and supported, according to the report.
