Developing tourism associated with riverside cultural space

DNO - After Quang Nam - Da Nang merged, the city has a wide open space and opportunity to develop tourism, especially waterway tourism. Possessing a rich river network, connecting many valuable cultural and historical spaces, this type of tourism is expected to bring a new wind, contributing to creating a strong momentum for the city.

It is possible to develop more waterway tourism routes on the Co Co River.

Awakening potential​

According to experts, in the context of expanding administrative boundaries and restructuring tourism products, developing riverside cultural spaces will be a new spearhead, forming attractive tourism products for the city.

According to Mr. Dang Hoa, Vice President of the Waterway Tourism Association, Owner of the Han Giang Tourist Boat, in recent years, the city has made many efforts to develop river tourism, notably the project to develop inland waterway tourism, or some tours such as: watching the Dragon Bridge breathe fire, 45-minute tour along the Han River...

Up to now, after the merger of Quang Nam - Da Nang, besides Han River, Co Co River, Cam Le River, Vinh Dien River, the city can develop more waterway tourism routes connecting with many other rivers of the old Quang Nam. This is a great potential for the city to exploit waterway tourism, contributing to bringing the city's tourism to a new level.

“Waterway tourists, in addition to enjoying the scenery along the river, are also very interested in the history and culture of the villages, or the historical sites and pagodas they pass through. These are practical needs of tourists. If we can meet them, the city’s waterway tourism sector will flourish,” said Mr. Hoa.

Sharing the same view, Deputy Director of the Ngu Hanh Son Ward Public Service Supply Center Nguyen Van Hien said that from ancient times until now, Co Co River is not only a waterway, but also a "river of memories" connecting cultural and commercial spaces from Cua Han to Hoi An.

The space on both sides of Co Co River, Vinh Dien River, and Cam Le River still retains elements of traditional craft villages and long-standing residential areas. These are favorable conditions for restoring riverside cultural villages, both preserving and promoting cultural values ​​and developing city tourism.

Among them, the dredging of Co Co River has great significance and is widely supported by the people. Because, in addition to the issue of transportation or tourism, restoring this river route also awakens ancient cultural values, associated with commercial ports, craft villages, and pagodas along the route from Da Nang to Hoi An.

[VIDEO] - Experts assess the city's potential for developing waterway tourism:

Synchronously deploy solutions

Despite its great potential and advantages, the development of waterway tourism still faces many limitations and difficulties that need to be resolved soon. Many routes still face obstacles, such as the Cam Le River route which has not been dredged synchronously, large ships cannot operate; the route from the Han River to the Ngu Wharf behind the Quan The Am Pagoda is blocked by reefs.

The Han River has many operating water tours.

According to Mr. Nguyen Van Hien, currently route X6 (Quan The Am Pagoda) is being implemented and wharf X5 (K20) has been basically completed, but the capacity of the ships is only allowed to carry less than 30 passengers. Meanwhile, the capacity of the ships traveling on the Han River is larger (about 100 passengers). This is a limitation, making it difficult for waterway tourism units to invest and exploit.

Besides, after dredging the Co Co River, the entire political system and tourism units need to calculate the means of service and stops for tourists, thereby connecting with typical cultural and ecological products.

According to Mr. Dang Hoa, to attract tourists, there must be 3 factors: attractive destinations, suitable means of transport, and consistent support policies. Currently, businesses and water tourism units are still worried because of the high investment costs and limited exploitation mechanisms.

At the same time, the city also needs to take a more drastic approach in identifying rest stops on existing rivers. “For example, the Cam Le riverside area has La Huong vegetable garden, which is very suitable for building a rest stop, combined with a traditional agricultural experience model,” Mr. Hoa suggested.

Standing in the role of an enterprise, Mr. Hoa hopes that the city will continue to pay attention to and create favorable conditions for administrative procedures, exploitation mechanisms and investment support for enterprises in the form of loans, shipbuilding, etc.

“When the government boldly opens roads and builds bridges, businesses will not hesitate to invest and join hands to build and develop the city's waterway tourism industry,” Mr. Hoa shared.

Source: https://baodanang.vn/phat-trien-du-lich-gan-voi-khong-gian-van-hoa-ven-song-3299089.html