VietNamNet Bridge – Saigontourist Holding Company is in preparations to boost river tourism in HCMC, checking existing products and preparing to launch new ones in the next few weeks, the corporation said.

Tourist boats are seen docking at Bach Dang Wharf in HCMC’s District 1.

Tran Hung Viet, general director of Saigontourist, said its member companies have reported on the development of river tourism products, and the parent firm is looking through the reports.

“Given reports of affiliated companies, we will review and launch new tourism products soon,” Viet told the Daily.

In late January, the HCMC government asked Saigontourist to take charge of developing river tourism. The city has also agreed with proposals of developing infrastructure, wharfs, rest stops and tourist attractions to create distinctive products for the city.

Vo Anh Tai, general director of Saigontourist Travel Service Company, a member of Saigontourist Holding Company, said that the firm wanted to boost river tourism as products of this kind sell well.

In addition to cooperation with foreign travel firms in selling cruise ship tours to Phnom Penh, Mekong Delta provinces, and night sightseeing tours along the Saigon River, Saigontourist Travel Service’s sales department is also selling river tours.

River tourism can make HCMC more distinctive, but the city’s river tourism cannot develop strongly without investments in facilities, according to Tai.

The number of customers buying river tours at Saigontourist Travel Service is not high but is rising with around 3,000 customers last year compared to 2,100 recorded in the previous year.

Source: SGT