An Giang tourism accelerates its breakthrough.

By 2026, An Giang province aims to develop tourism into a key economic sector with a strong brand, high competitiveness, and a focus on digital transformation, green growth, and international integration.

In An Giang province, tourists can also participate in unique cultural activities at the Bay Nui Ox Racing Festival, a unique agricultural festival of the Khmer ethnic group, held during the Don-ta Tet (late August, early September of the lunar calendar) in the Bay Nui region. Photo: Thuy Tien - Hoang Tuyet/News and Ethnic Groups Newspaper

The province is focusing on investing in tourism in a more in-depth and professional manner; at the same time, it is accelerating preparations for major events, especially the APEC 2027 conference expected to be held in the Phu Quoc special economic zone.

Target: 25 million tourists

In 2026, An Giang aims to welcome 25 million tourists, including 2.12 million international visitors, representing increases of 3.6% and 11% respectively compared to 2025. Total tourism revenue is targeted at 70,000 billion VND, a 3% increase compared to the same period last year.

According to Le Van Phuoc, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province, the province will implement promotional programs and organize many tourism events in 2026 to attract tourists. The locality is developing a plan to implement the project to develop Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone into a high-quality eco-tourism and island tourism center of national and international stature, immediately after it is approved by the Prime Minister. Along with that, An Giang will continue to strengthen tourism development linkages with Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces and cities in the Mekong Delta; expand cooperation with localities in Central Vietnam, the Central Highlands, and Northern Vietnam; and enhance international cooperation to proactively attract foreign tourists.

The province is orienting its development towards high-end resort tourism, health and wellness tourism, agricultural tourism, and unique regional products, aiming for international destination status while promoting heritage values ​​and national cultural identity. An Giang is implementing an environmental protection plan for tourism activities from 2026 to 2028 to ensure green and sustainable growth.

Community-based tourism and agricultural tourism are given special attention. The province is strengthening professional training and raising public awareness about the Net Zero trend – tourism that does not harm the environment, an important prerequisite for green development in 2026. Training courses to develop tourism human resources and update knowledge for tour guides will be organized regularly, creating an important foundation for the green development goal in 2026.

Next, the province will focus on investing in completing infrastructure in some key areas that are still lacking and weak; developing the "An Giang Province Tourism Development Plan for the period 2025 - 2030 and orientation to 2035", and proposing investment policies for 19 priority investment projects in the tourism sector for the period 2026 - 2027 to connect tourism infrastructure.

Specifically, in 2026, the province will research, advise, and propose the issuance of "breakthrough policies and mechanisms" on visa exemption and simplification of entry and exit procedures to attract international tourists; develop appropriate tax policies for tourist areas; and coordinate with the aviation industry to propose expanding connections with international markets. The province will welcome and work with domestic and foreign organizations and agencies to survey, connect, cooperate, and invest in developing routes, destinations, and products associated with stimulating tourism demand and attracting tourists; and organize famtrip delegations, reporters, and journalists to work, survey, and report on tourism in An Giang.

In the digital transformation process, the province effectively operates the project "Website system integrating virtual reality videos to promote tourism images, online ticketing system, mobile application, and tourism image promotion activities," creating favorable conditions for promoting and informing domestic and international tourists; combined with widespread promotion of An Giang tourism. The province strengthens security and safety for tourists; focuses on environmental hygiene and food safety; and creates a cultural, civilized, friendly, and hospitable tourism environment.

According to Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the An Giang Department of Tourism, 2026 is the year when An Giang tourism must adapt flexibly, innovate its model, and focus resources not only on achieving growth targets but also on shouldering the responsibility of completing important tasks in preparing for APEC 2027, ensuring its increasingly deep and effective international integration. An Giang will become an iconic destination, representing the culture and dynamism of the Southern Mekong Delta region. APEC 2027 is an opportunity for the province to affirm its position in the eyes of international friends, attracting investment and long-term cooperation.

With its outstanding potential in natural resources, culture, and geographical location, Phu Quoc Island is rising to become a leading destination in the region and the world. Mr. Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, General Director of Vina Phu Quoc Tourism Company and Chairman of the An Giang Tourism Association, stated that in preparation for APEC 2027 and tourism in 2026, the Association and businesses are making comprehensive preparations, focusing on improving service quality and human resources to professionally serve high-end tourists, politicians, and organizations worldwide. Besides professional skills, foreign language skills and understanding of international culture and national cultures are key factors that need improvement. Businesses need to develop a code of conduct that meets the standards for serving international guests. This is especially important when catering to groups with specific cultural requirements, such as serving Muslim tourists, which demands staff have a thorough understanding of Halal practices, Islamic culinary culture, and prayer schedules to attract and retain guests.

On the way from Hang Cong Pagoda, visitors will see an old gate by the roadside, bearing the distinct mark of the Khmer people of the past. This gate, with its weathered and faded appearance, has earned it the nicknames not only of Heaven's Gate or Sky Gate but also of Time's Gate. Photo: Manh Linh/News and Ethnic Groups Newspaper

Explosion in revenue and international visitors.

The year 2025 marks a historic milestone for An Giang's tourism industry, achieving impressive growth figures amidst the merger of Kien Giang and An Giang provinces into the new An Giang province.

According to the An Giang Department of Tourism, total tourism revenue in 2025 is projected to reach nearly 68,000 billion VND, a 92% increase compared to 2024, exceeding the plan by 72.9%; welcoming over 24.1 million visitors, exceeding the annual plan by 14.7%. A highlight is the strong recovery and growth of international tourists, with over 1.9 million arrivals.

In the context of provincial consolidation, An Giang's tourism industry is building a suitable operating mechanism, transforming challenges into opportunities to expand its operational space in a synchronized and sustainable manner; developing tourism in depth and quality.

According to Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the An Giang Department of Tourism, the tourism tasks and targets for 2025 were achieved and exceeded two months ahead of schedule. The Department coordinated with relevant agencies to participate in tourism promotion and advertising programs in several key domestic and international markets. The Department also successfully organized cultural, sports, and tourism events, as well as events commemorating major national and provincial holidays, thereby introducing and promoting the province's potential and strengths to domestic and international tourists. The rapid increase in international visitors confirms the increasingly professional quality of tourism products and services.

Ms. Vu Thi Diem Thuy, Director of Hon Son Trading and Service Company Limited, Kien Hai Special Economic Zone, believes that tourism activities in the southwestern sea and islands, although achieving initial results, still face many difficulties that need to be overcome for stable and sustainable development. These include supporting the Kien Hai Special Economic Zone in developing green tourism; investing in street lighting systems around the islands to facilitate tourist travel; and expanding the port system. As island tourism develops, limitations and shortcomings at tourist destinations and islands, such as waste disposal systems and water scarcity during the dry season, need to be addressed comprehensively to serve tourism. The province needs to specifically plan areas for attracting investment in tourism development on the islands, create land reserves for community-linked projects, and establish preferential long-term lease mechanisms for businesses.

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/du-lich/du-lich-an-giang-tang-toc-but-pha-20251211085156454.htm