A number of tourist wharves in Da Nang which have been built since 2017 have yet to be fully exploited. Therefore, it is necessary for the city to promote the development of river tourism in a bid to soon put the wharves into operation, thereby contributing to driving local socio-economic development.

The Thai Lai tourist wharf in Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District has not yet received tourist boats over the past four years. Photo: HOANG HIEP

Some tourist wharves have not been exploited yet

In September 2016, the Da Nang administration gave a nod to build K.20 tourist wharf on a section of Co Co River in Khue My Ward, Ngu Hanh Son District, and Tuy Loan and Thai Lai tourist wharves on the Tuy Loan River in Hoa Vang District.

On July 13, 2017, the municipal authorities issued a plan to develop inland waterway passenger transport services and inland waterway wharves in the city by 2025.

In which, the municipal People's Committee assigned the Management Board of Construction and Investment Projects for Agriculture and Rural Development Works to complete the construction of the three aforementioned wharves in 2017.

“The Tuy Loan tourist wharf was already built in 2017, but over the past 4 years, it has yet to receive any tourist boats, except for 1-2 ships carrying officials from departments, agencies, and tourism businesses to conduct survey about inland waterway tourism routes” said Mr. Nguyen Van Tinh, a female resident of Tuy Loan Tay Village, Hoa Phong Commune, Hoa Vang District.

Mr. Tinh expressed his hope that the Tuy Loan tourist wharf would be put into use soon in order to contribute to promoting historical and cultural values of the locality, especially the Tuy Loan Village Communal House, and boosting the local economic growth.

Many local residents felt frustrated because the entrance way to the Tuy Loan tourist wharf was blocked and there was a lot of rubbish there. In addition, due to floods, production land areas and riverbanks opposite the wharf in Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District, have suffered landslides.

Similarly, the Thai Lai and K20 tourist wharves have been abandoned for more than 4 years.

How to effectively exploit tourist wharves?

Deputy Director of the Management Board of Construction and Investment Projects for Agriculture and Rural Development Works Phan Dinh Duc said that his unit has already completed the construction of tourist wharves and handed over them to their owners.

“Currently, the management board is preparing for the building of two tourist wharves on the Cam Le River, one behind the Da Nang Exhibition Centre located on Thang Long route, and the other near the Cham Phong Le relic site in Hoa Tho Dong, Cam Le District” added Mr. Duc.

Deputy Director Duc revealed that, from now to 2025, 10 tourist piers will be constructed on rivers to ensure the synchronous operation of inland waterway activities because, in the past few years, the operation of tourist wharves has not been effective, especially those in Hoa Vang District.

“On the other hand, in the dry season, the Tuy Loan River dries up and tourist boats are also entangled with the high altitude of the road bridge spanning the river, so the wharves on the Tuy Loan River have difficulties in operation," said Mr. Phan Dinh Duc.

Vice Chairman of the Hoa Vang District People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Dung remarked that there are no attractive tourism products along the Tuy Loan River. He, therefore, proposed the municipal People's Committee to invest in a number of wharfs along the riverbank, passing the Ong Ich Duong Temple, the Bo Ban vegetable area, etc. to have more attractive tourist routes, effectively exploiting the already built wharves.

In order to effectively exploit the already-invested tourist wharves, Vice Chairman of the municipal People's Committee Tran Phuoc assigned Hoa Vang District People's Committee to coordinate with relevant departments and units to urgently upgrade the infrastructure of the Tuy Loan tourist wharf to ensure traffic safety on the National Highway 14G at the request of the Directorate for Roads of Viet Nam.

Top priority will be given to conducting research on means of passenger transport on the river as well as developing onshore tourism products and services suitable for exploiting river tourism routes between Cam Le and Hoa Vang districts.

The People's Committee of Ngu Hanh Son District has been required to create landscapes at the K20 tourist wharf.

The municipal Department of Transport has been asked to collaborate with the district-level authorities and related units to review and announce the operation of inland waterway routes at already-built tourist wharves, as well as re-propose the vessel size for each route to ensure the effective operation of the wharves.

Reporting by HOANG HIEP – Translating by M.DUNG