Boat tours along Ho Chi Minh City’s canals, which were expected to boost water tourism, have failed to attract tourists because of a lack of facilities and waste discharge in waterways.
Boat tours along HCM City’s canals, which were expected to boost water tourism in the city, have failed to attract tourists. (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) - Boat tours along Ho Chi Minh City’s canals, which were expectedto boost water tourism, have failed to attract tourists because of a lack offacilities and waste discharge in waterways.
Poorlydeveloped docking berths, inadequate tourist services along the banks ofrivers and boat stations, and high tour fares are also reasons for thelack of passengers.
Toattract visitors, Saigon Boat Co Ltd, the investor of rowboat tours along theNhieu Loc-Thi Nghe Canal, has sent a proposal to the city’s Department ofTransportation to allow the company to invest more in boat stations andfacilities along the canal, such as parking lots, public toilets and waitingrooms.
However,areas for construction of onshore projects serving tourists are all publicland belonging to the corridor of river and canal protection. In order touse this land, investors must carry out legal procedures for renting land,according to the Department of Transportation.
Thedepartment is coordinating with other departments and People's Committeesof districts to develop an investment policy which is expected to be submittedto the HCM City People's Committee in the fourth quarter of thisyear.
Besidesthe lack of facilities, pollution and waste discharged by local residentsare also the problems.
The boattour, launched in 2016, received positive feedback from foreign tourists, butwaste should be removed from the canals, the Saigon Boat Co Ltd said.
Also,illegal fishing along the canal has affected the operation of boats.
Earlierthis year, a boat carrying tourists broke a fishing line belonging to a groupof people who were fishing illegally. The fishermen chased the vessel and threwstones at the passengers. No one was injured but the boat sustainedlight damage, according to the Saigon Boat Co Ltd.
Ashortage of lights is another problem, forcing boats to stop operatingafter dark.-VNA
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Boat tours along HCM City’s canals, which were expected to boost water tourism in the city, have failed to attract tourists. (Photo: VNA) 
