Kien Giang attracts Cambodian tourists.

Text and photos: HIEU THUAN

The number of Cambodian tourists visiting Kien Giang is increasing, and the province's tourism industry is currently implementing many programs and plans to attract and effectively exploit this potential tourist market.

The Kien Giang Tourism Association organized a roadshow to promote tourism and a business networking workshop with Cambodian travel agencies last May.

According to the Kien Giang Provincial Department of Tourism, in 2022 and the first months of 2023, the Cambodian tourist market to Kien Giang experienced significant growth; with the largest increase in Cambodian tourists arriving in Phu Quoc City via the Ha Tien international border gate. In 2022 alone, Kien Giang welcomed over 16,000 Cambodian tourists; from the beginning of 2023 to date, Kien Giang has received over 9,000 Cambodian tourists.

According to tourism businesses in Kien Giang province, Cambodian tourists entering Vietnam come from various sources. These include tourists from border provinces who visit for leisure and recreation during festivals and weekends; affluent tourists from major cities like Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, and Siem Reap, often families combining tourism with medical treatment; and groups of tourists on extended trips, visiting multiple locations before taking a ferry to Phu Quoc Island for a vacation and returning home. “Currently, the number of Cambodian tourists entering Kien Giang via the Ha Tien international border gate is quite high. This group tends to prefer higher-end services, staying in 4-star hotels and staying longer than the average,” said Mr. Du To Tuan, Director of Vietravel's Rach Gia branch.

To accommodate this influx of tourists, accommodation and restaurant establishments in Kien Giang are investing in and renovating their facilities to be able to serve large groups of visitors. Mr. Prak Chandra, a Cambodian tourist, shared: “Phu Quoc has beautiful beaches. The Phu Quoc night market is bustling and sells a lot of food and souvenirs. My family and I had a very relaxing and enjoyable time here.”

Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh, Chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association, noted that statistics show the number of Cambodian tourists visiting Kien Giang is gradually increasing, and this is a potential international tourist market for the summer of 2023. “To attract Cambodian tourists to Kien Giang, the Kien Giang Tourism Association recently organized a Roadshow to promote tourism and a business networking workshop with the theme “Phu Quoc - New Destination Of The World” to connect businesses with outbound travel agencies in Cambodia. Through this tourism promotion program, the Association introduced to travel businesses and tourists in the Kingdom of Cambodia the homeland, people, and culture of Kien Giang; its potential advantages for tourism development; specifically, its scenic spots, destinations, travel companies, restaurants, hotels, passenger transport units, and other services serving tourists in Kien Giang,” Mr. Khanh said.

The promotional program attracted over 80 participating businesses, including 67 Cambodian travel agencies that directly connected (B2B) with tourism businesses in Kien Giang province. Following the program, the Association invited Cambodian travel agencies to survey and explore the market, establish investment partnerships, cooperate in tourism development, and connect tours and routes to bring tourists to visit Phu Quoc and other localities in Kien Giang province…

The Kien Giang Tourism Association affirms that the tourism promotion program in Cambodia is a very important and timely activity at this time, aiming to gradually restore markets and attract international tourists to Phu Quoc, as well as Kien Giang province.

Source link: https://baocantho.com.vn/kien-giang-hut-khach-du-lich-campuchia-a160780.html