Kien Giang rakes in US$97 million from tourism in first half
The Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang earned more than VND2.2 trillion (around US$97 million) from tourism services in the first half of 2017, up 20% against the same period last year.
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Among over 3 million visitors to Kien Giang during the January-June period, almost 208,400 are foreigners, representing a year-on-year increase of 22.5%.
Phu Quoc island attracted the largest number of holiday-makers with 988,000, of whom nearly 198,900 are international tourists, up 77% over the corresponding time last year.
Other destinations like U Minh Thuong National Park, Ha Tien and Hon Dat towns, and Hon Tre, Lai Son, An Son, Nam Du, Hai Tac and Hon Nghe islets also lured crowds of vacationers.
Tran Chi Dung, Director of the provincial Tourism Department, attributed the increase to better quality of tourism services, more diverse tourism products, intensified tourism promotion activities and tightened travel management.
He added that since the beginning of this year, Kien Giang has attracted ten tourism projects worth over VND4.95 trillion (US$217.8 million). The province is now home to 286 tourism projects with a combined capital of VND332.6 trillion (US$14.65 billion).
Of the number, Phu Quoc island alone accommodates 233 projects valued at nearly VND323.87 trillion (US$14.26 billion), the official said.
The province has created the best possible conditions for the implementation of licensed projects, Dung noted.
Kien Giang boasts a diverse mangrove ecological system and great potential for agro-forestry-fishery and tourism development. Last year, the local economy expanded by 6.57%, higher than the country’s average of 6.21%.
The province has set a target of collecting over VND8.8 trillion (US$384.2 million) for the State budget and serving 5.82 million tourists, including 360,000 foreigners this year.
