From the estimated VND850 billion ($40.7 million) tourism revenues during 2012, tourism in Can Tho city is not doing bad at all. The figure is 12 percent higher compared to the year before that. Also from 2012, travel firms in the city provided accommodation services for 1,180 tourists while international travel firms catered inbound tours for 14,000 foreign tourists. The city currently has around 190 hotels offering 4,799 rooms. 59 of these are labeled as one to four-star hotels. It also has 11 tourist sites and entertainment places.

Tourism department however admits that much is still needed to boost tourism development in the city for the coming years. Most of the city’s tourism sites are small-scale and are operating independently without any proper cooperation. The city also lack modern large-scale entertainment places as well as typical specialties. Efforts are also needed for tourism promotion as the present approach lacks organization and efficiency.

The city’s tourism sector aims to welcome 1.25 million tourists this year, including over 210,000 foreign tourists. Revenues from the projected number of arrivals is estimated to reach VND970 billion ($46.5 million) during the year. To achieve this, tourism authorities will request the city’s culture centre and Tay Do theatre to cooperate with travel firms and hotels to organize suitable art performances for tourists. Holding festivals and the introduction of typical products as souvenirs are also among the listed strategies.

The department will conduct studies of tourism sites in order to select those with the most potential for further development. The Cai Rang floating market, when properly developed, is seen to be a promising tourism destination. Drafting of policies that encourage investment in tourism, as well as the organization of tourism-promoting programs, both at local and national levels, were also proposed to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.