Kiên Giang tourism sees numbers improve in first quarter

April 09, 2018 - 07:00

Kiên Giang Province welcomed more than 1.5 million tourists in the first quarter of the year, a 3.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Tourists explores the beauty of Hòn Thơm Island on Kiên Giang Province’s Phú Quốc Island, which is connected to An Thới Town by the world’s longest sea cable-car route. — VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Vũ
Viet Nam News

KIÊN GIANG — Kiên Giang Province welcomed more than 1.5 million tourists in the first quarter of the year, a 3.7 per cent increase compared to the same period last year.

Of the figure, there were 173,000 international tourists, a rise of 5.9 per cent year-on-year.

Tourism is expected to become the province’s key sector, according to Mai Văn Huỳnh, deputy chairman of the province’s People’s Committee.

Authorities are pouring more money into investment, infrastructure and human resource training for the tourism sector.

Phú Quốc Island, which is part of the province, is expected to become an international hub for eco-tourism, resort tourism and entertainment in the country, region and the world.

Thanks to favourable conditions for investors, the province has the largest number of tourism projects in the Mekong Delta.

Phú Quốc is the top place in attracting investment, Huỳnh said.

Rạch Giá City, Hà Tiên Town, Kiên Lương District, and U Minh Thượng District and surrounding areas also have tourism potential.

The province has called for investment in entertainment centres, shopping malls, transport services and sea-going trips for this area.

Nam Du Archipelago, Lại Sơn Island in Kiên Hải District, and Hải Tặc Archipelago in Hà Tiên Town have been recognised as three tourist zones in the province.

This recognition will help build the area’s brand, attract more investment and open new ecotourism sites.

Võ Văn Sáu, deputy director of the province’s Department of Tourism, said the province was calling for investment in 14 projects in the tourism sector with a total cost of VNĐ4.2 trillion (US$183 million). — VNS

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