Visitors at Mũi Nai beach in Kiên Giang province’s Hà Tiên Town.- VNA/VNS Photo Lê Sen |
HCM CITY — Tourism in the Cửu Long (Mekong) Delta region has enjoyed a boost in tourist arrivals and revenue in the first two months of the year.
During the period, Cần Thơ City received 1.8 million tourists, up 19 per cent year-on-year, according to the city’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The city’s tourism revenue rose by 28 per cent to reach VNĐ515 billion (US$22.6 million).
Trần Việt Phường, director of the department, attributed the surge in tourist arrivals to rising demand for travelling during the Tết (Lunar New Year) holiday and various festive activities held in the city during the holiday.
Famous tourist attractions, such as Cái Răng floating market, Mỹ Khánh tourism village, Trúc Lâm Phương Nam Zen Monastery, Bình Thủy ancient house, and cồn Sơn (Sơn islet), were crowded with domestic and foreign tourists during Tết, Phường said.
To lure more tourists, the city has fostered tourism promotion and links with other major cities, such as HCM City, Đà Nẵng and Hà Nội, he said.
Last year, the city welcomed 7.5 million tourists, up 40 per cent year-on-year, and tourism revenue surged by 61 per cent to VNĐ2.9 trillion ($127.6 million).
Kiên Giang Province’s tourism income topped the region last year, totaling VNĐ4.58 trillion ($201.4 million), said Phạm Vũ Hồng, chairman of the provincial People’s Committee.
The province is encouraging enterprises to invest in infrastructure and tourism facilities, as well as upgrade historical, cultural and scenic sites to serve tourists, Hồng said.
It has enhanced tourism marketing and promotion in local markets and abroad, he said.
The province has mapped out four key tourism zones, including Phú Quốc Island, Hà Tiên- Kiên Lương, Rạch Giá- Kiên Hải and U Minh Thượng National Park, he said.
The number of tourists visiting the province totaled more than 1 million in the first two months of the year, up 2.5 per cent year-on-year.
Đồng Tháp, Long An and Tiền Giang provinces have collaborated with HCM City to develop the “One journey, three destinations” route tour to promote the sustainable tourism development in the Mekong Delta region. —VNS