An Giang: Developing sustainable, environmentally friendly tourism

In the first 3 months of 2023, An Giang tourism industry welcomed 4 million visitors, an increase of 60% over the same period in 2022 and reaching 50% of the 2023 plan.

Of which, there were 6,000 international visitors, 20 times higher than the same period in 2022 and reaching 50% of the 2023 plan. Total revenue from tourism activities in the first quarter of 2023 reached VND 2,500 billion, up 79% over the same period in 2022 and reaching 45% of the yearly plan.

Tra Su Melaleuca Forest tourist area (Tinh Bien district, An Giang ) attracts many tourists to visit (documentary photo).

Vice Chairman of An Giang Provincial People's Committee Le Van Phuoc said that on the occasion of the Lunar New Year, tourist areas and destinations in the province have stepped up propaganda, image promotion, and carefully prepared to welcome domestic and foreign tourists. Localities have closely directed and strengthened the inspection and supervision of service quality of tourist areas and destinations, ensuring food hygiene and safety, fire prevention and fighting, security and order, protecting the tourism environment, preventing and fighting new variants of the COVID-19 epidemic... According to the Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, in response to the increasing demand for tourists in the coming time, the locality has had a plan to cooperate and link to develop tourism in the western cluster of the Mekong Delta; promote training and fostering for tourism management officials and tourism establishments. An Giang encourages localities and tourist areas... to diversify products, linking tourism activities with propaganda of local culture and people; develop tours, tourist routes, commercial activities, and combined services to retain tourists; change the mindset of tourism from quantity to quality, aiming at sustainable and environmentally friendly tourism development. In 2023, the provincial tourism industry aims to welcome 8 million visitors; of which the number of guests staying at standard hotels, motels, and inns is estimated at 700,000. Revenue from tourism activities is expected to reach 5,500 billion VND.

To achieve this goal, in the coming time, the tourism industry will strengthen cooperation in tourism development between localities and the Western Mekong Delta Tourism Development Cooperation Cluster; the tourism development cooperation program between Ho Chi Minh City and 13 provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta. The locality will promote cooperation in tourism development with Dong Thap province; focus on building typical tours and routes, connecting special tourist destinations in the Mekong Delta; continue to introduce and promote the image and brand of An Giang tourism in the direction of developing "tourism value chains" and "unique, typical tourism products" to promote tourism development. The tourism industry will focus on researching and developing new tourism products to enrich types and products, increase the value of tourism products; implement domestic tourism stimulus programs, focusing on summer vacations and the April 30-May 1 holidays; Investing in and upgrading tourism infrastructure, entertainment areas... In 2022, An Giang tourism industry welcomed more than 7.3 million visitors, an increase of 122% over the same period in 2021; including 8,000 international visitors, an increase of 250% over the same period in 2021. Total revenue from tourism activities is estimated at more than 4,600 billion VND, an increase of 114% over the same period in 2021.

News and photos: Thanh Sang (Vietnam News Agency)