Can Tho Orientation for tourism development according to the MICE model

DNHN - MICE tourism (tourism combining conferences, seminars, exhibitions, and event organization) is one of Can Tho City's two primary tourism products.

According to the Vietnam Tourism Association, MICE tourism is one of the most popular forms of tourism worldwide. Singapore is the leader in this type of tourism in Southeast Asia. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, this type of tourism is still relatively new, but its development is being prioritized, and it has the potential to generate substantial revenue for the entire industry.

To date, Can Tho has more than 636 accommodation establishments with more than 11,000 rooms, including up to 131 1-5 star hotels. The hotel system in Can Tho that meets service standards is highly regarded. Specifically, the homestay system of My Khanh Tourist Village was awarded the ASEAN Homestay award at the 2019 ASEAN Tourism Awards of the ASEAN Tourism Forum (ATF); Hotels: Muong Thanh, TTC Can Tho, Azerai Can Tho, homestay My Thuan, Victoria Can Tho... have all received numerous domestic and international tourism awards. Five-star hotels (Muong Thanh, TTC Can Tho, and Sheraton) all have large conference rooms that can accommodate 1,000 to 2,000 guests.

Additionally, Can Tho International Airport has four airlines operating regular flights with an average frequency of twenty to twenty-one flights per day to key tourism provinces and cities, including Hanoi and Da Nang. Nang, Phu Quoc (Kien Giang), Hai Phong, and Thanh Hoa are four Vietnamese provinces. In addition, the city offers a variety of entertainment services, supermarkets, and large centers...

Can Tho has recently hosted numerous large national and international conferences, including the Conference on Cooperation of French-Vietnamese Localities in Can Tho, the Cultural Exchange and the Fifth Vietnam-Japan Trade in Can Tho, and the Vietnam International Tourism Fair - VITM Can Tho 2019.

Although there is a great deal of development potential, Can Tho's MICE tourism still faces many obstacles, making it difficult to create unique products for the city. Currently, tourism businesses primarily rely on their prior knowledge and routines, so they have not created any competition.

Ms. Le Dinh Minh Thy, Director of Vietravel Can Tho, stated, "If MICE tourism is determined to be the primary product, Can Tho capitalize on existing infrastructure while focusing on a handful of outdoor spaces? Can Tho lacks space to accommodate outdoor activities for large groups of several thousand people, while MICE groups always have a very large number of participants. On the other hand, Can Tho should have a MICE tourism coordination board. In actuality, when organizing MICE events, we must request permission in numerous locations for a variety of activities, which will take a great deal of time and make it difficult to organize for various groups of guests."

Although a large number of events and conferences are held in Can Tho, MICE tourism has not yet developed in a pronounced manner. To effectively appreciate and exploit this form of tourism, there are also unanswered questions regarding its scope, quality, and efficacy.

To develop MICE tourism, Can Tho must have its policy mechanisms, including long-term planning for infrastructure, products, and services, as well as human capital. Can Tho capitalize on its position as a regional hub by proactively organizing seminars, conferences, and training courses to attract tourists shortly.

Ngoc Thu