An Giang works to build tourism trademark

Hanoi (VNA) – An Giang province, a hub of relic and scenic sites in the Mekong Delta, is making efforts to improve its quality of tourism products and services as well as build a trademark catering to visitors’ needs.

The local sector will focus on those with demand for cultural-spiritual tours, festivals, eco- and resort tourism, aiming to gradually expand its tourist market and recover the foreign arrival segment in line with COVID-19 safety measures.

According to statistics from the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, An Giang used to welcome over 6 million domestic and foreign tourists each year on average. In 2021, due to the pandemic impact, it received just about 3.5 million visitors, down 46 percent on-year, and obtained 2.3 trillion VND (100.59 million USD) worth of revenue. In 2022, the province aims for 4.6 million tourists and revenue of about 3 trillion VND.

Toward turning tourism into its key economic sector, An Giang prioritises investing in the development of infrastructure and high-quality and diverse products.

For the 2021-2025 period, it plans to host 42 million arrivals, reeling in 27.8 trillion VND. By 2025, An Giang will have at least one large-scale cultural and spiritual tourist area; restaurants and hotels meeting 5-star standard; as well as amusement parks and large-scale entertainment sites in key tourist destinations and big cities such as Long Xuyen and Chau Doc.

To achieve the targets, Nguyen Khanh Hiep, director of the department, said the tourism industry will work to improve product and service quality to serve domestic demand.

Le Van Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee, said An Giang will boost tourism cooperation with the cluster of cooperation and tourism development in the West Mekong Delta; while stepping up its engagement in a tourism development cooperation programme between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 localities in the delta.

An Giang is home to many festivals, historical-cultural relics and scenic spots recognised at provincial and national levels as well as many types of intangible cultural heritage accredited by the Government. Some of them are the Ba Chua Xu festival on Sam Mountain and the Bay Nui (Seven Mountains) ox racing festival, which have annually attracted millions of tourists./.