The event, the ninth of its kind,
was hosted by the Ho Chi Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities
of the Vietnam National University (VNU), Binh
Duong University,
the US’s University of Hawaii
and the provincial People’s Committee.
Addressing the event, Chairman of
the provincial People’s Committee Vuong Binh Thanh noted the province’s favorable
conditions for tourism development, saying that the locality has beautiful
landscapes and special national relic sites.
He hoped that participants will help
make the tourism sector an economic spearhead and a significant part of the
province’s socio-economic development strategy.
Nguyen To Lan, from the Institute of
Han-Nom Studies in Hanoi, highlighted spiritual
tourism potential in Sam
Mountain, Chau Doc
district.
Ngo Thanh Loan from the VNU - Ho Chi
Minh City University of Social Sciences and Humanities also introduced homestay
tourism potential in rural areas of the province.
An Giang is the religious tourism
hub in the South, particularly in the Temple of Ba Chua Xu
(Protector Goddess), Loan said, adding that the province is also home to
numerous religions and beliefs.
Meanwhile, Jonathan Warren from the
US’s University of Washington stressed the need for developing culture and
education in tandem with the economy, saying that investment for education and
culture will drive economic development and vice versa.
Participants also discussed ways to
strengthen management over climate change adaptation in the Mekong Delta region
and promote spiritual tourism in Vietnam.
Source: VNA