Kien Giang promotes tourism in difficult situation

Over the past two years, especially since the beginning of the year, the country’s tourism sector, including that of Kien Giang Province, has been severely affected by the COVID-19 epidemic.

However, amidst difficult situation, Kien Giang has still managed to maintain tourism stimulation and tried to fulfil the “dual goal” of preventing and controlling the epidemic while developing tourism

Two options for tourism development

In the first six months of 2021, Kien Giang’s tourism sector effectively implemented the “dual goal” by welcoming over 2.3 million tourists (reaching over 33% of the all-year plan) and earning over VND2.680 trillion (over US$11.6 million).

Regarding the field of investment, the province attracted two projects worth total over VND1 trillion (US$43.4 million)So far, Kien Giang Province has attracted 327 investment projects into tourism worth total nearly VND359.5 trillion (over US$1.56 billion), with a total area of 10.162 hectares. Specifically, 70 projects have been put into operation, 82 others are under construction and the remainder are in the process of preparing procedures. into tourism industry in Phu Quoc City, with a total area of 21.7 hectares.

According to Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Tourism Bui Quoc Thai, the province will implement a tourism growth scenario in line with the situation of COVID-19 epidemic and the locality’s reality under two options in the last six months of this year.

Under the option 1 as the epidemic continues to be complicated, Kien Giang’s tourism sector will adjust the target of receiving around 3.1 million tourists in 2021. With option 2, if the epidemic is well under control and all people in Phu Quoc City are vaccinated against COVID-19 in the third quarter to create a herd immunity, Kien Giang will strive to attract five million visitors.

Accordingly, Kien Giang Tourism Department should regularly monitor to update the developments of COVID-19 epidemic to strictly carry out epidemic prevention and control measures among the whole sector, ensuring safety for visitors.

The provincial department must continue to deploy the domestic tourism stimulation programme and be ready to welcome international tourists when the Government allows flights into the tourism market. 

In addition, Kien Giang Provincial Tourism Department will coordinate with the local Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion on Centre and relevant agencies to promote tourism and communications on safe destinations in the locality in line with situation of COVID-19 epidemic. The department will also work with localities in the key tourism area to implement measures on environmental management and create favourable conditions for travel enterprises to operate effectively, develop facilities, and build new products and services at tourist sites.

Enhancing tourism stimulation

Nguyen Duy Linh Thao, Director of Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre said that following three years of implementing the Provincial Party Committee’s Resolution on tourism development until 2020, with a vision to 2030, the province’s tourism sector has made many positive changes. During 2018-2020 period, Kien Giang tourism has developed strongly, with nearly 22 million visitors (including nearly 1.5 million foreigners) and total revenue of over VND42 trillion (US$182.5 million). However, in 2021, the complicated COVID-19 pandemic has seriously affected tourism activities.

In order to maintain and develop tourism towards fulfilling the “dual goal”, the Provincial People’s Committee assigned the centre and other relevant agencies and departments to strengthen promotion of potential and strengths of destinations, tours, activities and services of businesses as well as enhance tourism stimulation effectively.

Accordingly, with the role of a focal point, Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre will join the linkage with major provinces and cities in the country to form a link chain of tours and routes in the key economic region of the Mekong River Delta. In addition, the centre will cooperate with foreign promotion organisations in Vietnam to promote the province's tourism potential through online activities.

The centre will also coordinate with localities, media agencies and travel businesses to conduct surveys on tourism products, and commercial ones serving tourism, while introducing products and connecting tours of the locality through technological apps.

The promotion of Kien Giang’s potentials, strengths and preferential policies will be enhanced to attract more investment into tourism. The Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Centre will coordinate with travel enterprises around the country to stimulate tourism development following the pandemic. 

The centre will also promote socialisation in tourism stimulation and promotion activities, especially in upholding the role of media agencies and digital technology to create breakthroughs.