Branding Dong Thap tourism

The Mekong Delta province is taking full advantage of its natural scenery, ecotourism projects and its special lotus flower to brand its image and products.

According to Dong Thap Tourism Development Project, the province aims to attract 3.5 million visitors by the year 2020, double that of 2014, and targets to reach revenue of around VND1 trillion (US$44.24 billion), which is triple that of 2014. Furthermore, the province has set targets to increase the duration of the average guest’s stay from 1.1 day (in 2014) to 1.5 (in 2020) and to double this by 2030.

Dong Thap tourism is striving to brand itself as “an attractive, safe, friendly and high quality tourism destination” with the lotus flower as its symbol, representing purity.

Chairman of the Dong Thap People’s Committee Nguyen Van Duong added that in order for Dong Thap tourism to achieve sustainable visitor numbers, it is necessary to continue to complete all mechanisms and policies for improving tourism, simplifying administration procedures and developing support services to welcome investors including those from the economic sector, individuals, and domestic and foreign organisations who will develop infrastructure and entertainment services.

In addition, Dong Thap has just launched Tram Chim tourism society premises, located in Tram Chim town, Tam Nong District. This is the 56^th centre and the first one in Dong Thap province dedicated solely to tourism, with 35 members and including services such as restaurants, motels, hotels and community tourism. The members of the centre work in accommodation, tourist transportation, restaurants, community tourism, as tourist guides, and in other fields related to tourism services.

According to Le Minh Hoan, secretary of Dong Thap Provincial Party Committee, tourism is a service and tourism is akin to “selling” and “buying”. “We sell not what we have, but what customers need, and therefore sellers must know what buyers need in order to satisfy them,” says Hoan.