Foreign tourists visit Phú Quốc Island last month. VNA/VNS Photo

KIÊN GIANG — The Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta province of Kiên Giang welcomed more than 1.95 million tourist arrivals in the first two months of this year, a year-on-year increase of 79 per cent, according to the provincial Department of Tourism.

During the period, foreign visitors rose by 104 per cent compared to the same period last year to reach 215,300 arrivals.

Tourism revenue hit VNĐ5.2 trillion (US$210 million), up 88 per cent year-on-year.  

Phú Quốc Island, the most popular tourist destination in the province, received more than 1.15 million tourist arrivals, including more than 210,000 foreign tourists.

Other tourist destinations in the province such as Hà Tiên, Rạch Giá, Kiên Hải, and Kiên Lương also drew crowds of tourists.

Bùi Quốc Thái, director of the department, said a range of new year celebration activities were organised during Tết (Lunar New Year) holidays to attract tourists.

Phú Quốc has welcomed two cruise ships carrying thousands of foreign tourists to explore the island since the beginning of this year, Thái said.

The province has strengthened tourism linkage with other localities such as Hà Nội, HCM City and Lào Cai Province to boost tourism, he said.

It has carried out marketing and promotion programmes in major foreign markets such as the UK and India.

The province has so far attracted 317 tourism projects with a total investment capital of VNĐ372.4 trillion ($15 billion).

Phú Quốc City has lured 274 projects worth a total of VNĐ367.7 trillion ($14.8 billion). —VNS