HCM City administrators are planning to open more tourist streets to attract travelers to the city.

Tourists are shopping in Ben Thanh Market in District 1 

The news was announced on April 22 in the radio program “Talks to city administration” themed “Measures to boost city tourism”. 

According to the Department of Tourist in HCMC, the contribution of the “smokeless industry” gradually increased within five years with an estimation of VND80 trillion ($3.5 billion) a year, accounting for 9 percent of the city’s gross domestic product.

Deputy Chairwoman of People’s Committee in District 5 Truong Thi Minh Kieu said as per the district administration’s plan, jewelry streets’ were scheduled to be put into operation on April 27 in streets Nhieu Tam, Nghia Thuc and Bui Huu Nghia where the gold making developed in the 1980s in the district. 

Moreover, Nguyen Trai Street will become a fashion street in addition to traditional medicine street and jewelry street. 

Tourists will be protected while shopping in these streets. 

The Local government will send more police officers to keep orders and security in these streets as well as installing cameras. Goods prices in these shops are listed to prevent shop assistants from overcharging.

Before on April 21, at a meeting to develop tourist sector, Deputy Chairman of People’s Committee Tran Vinh Tuyen confirmed the city will focus on developing specific tourist products. 

The city plans to have one tourist festival a month; for instance Ao dai festival in March or Flower street Nguyen Hue in Tet holidays ( Lunar New Year), said Mr. Tuyen.

The tourist sector targets to receive seven million international visitors and 25 million local tourists in 2017 , earning VND120 trillion. 

To achieve the target, the sector needs to make much efforts, said director of the municipal tourism department  Bui Ta Hoang Vu. 

Travel agents, local governments play important roles in connecting destinations by keeping orders and security, food safety. 

Additionally, boosting images of Vietnam to potential holiday-makers is an important factor; accordingly, the sector is placing adverts to potential markets such as Russia, Japan and India.

SGGP