Making Tourism into Leading Economic Sector

With the advantages of rich tourism resources and terrain including plains, forests, coast and islands, Kien Giang is considered one of the provinces of the Mekong River Delta with the best tourism potential. Given the socio-economic development strategy for the 5 years from 2016 to 2020, the province has set a target of turning tourism into a spearhead economic sector, contributing to the province’s development. To learn more about the development of tourism in Kien Giang, Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr Tran Chi Dung, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.Could you share more about Kien Giang Province’s tourism development practices in the period of 2011- 2015?

In 2011-2015, with the attention and guidance of all levels on the comprehensive planning and construction of the infrastructure of the districts comprehensive, implementation of the investment projects, and human resources training, the tourism of Kien Giang has made some important achievements. In this phase, Kien Giang has welcomed 18.657 million travellers, an average growth rate of 7.9 percent annually, and total revenue from tourism has reached more than VND 6,303,936 billions, with a growth of 28.4 percent; tourism has contributed to creating jobs, increasing incomes for businesses and people and promoting the budget and the economic growth of the province.

How will Kien Giang focus on developing the critical infrastructure system to leverage tourism development?

In recent years, investment in the important infrastructure to serve tourism development has drawn great attention of the province. This helps improve the quality of the tourism services for the visitors. Some typical projects that have upgraded include Rach Gia Airport, Phu Quoc International Airport; seaports like Rach Gia, An Thoi, Bai Vong, and Duong Dong; Highway routes 80, 63, 61, N1; important roads on Phu Quoc Island; and electricity and water systems. Other investment projects focus on improving infrastructure in the area at the tourist attractions include Mui Nai, Thach Dong (Ha Tien), Hon Trem- Chua Hang (Kien Luong); restoring the historical cultural landscapes restoration and promoting the sightseeing tour services such as Phu Quoc Prison, Ba Islet (Hon Dat), U Minh Thuong historical revolution to the leverage tourism development. At the moment, Kien Giang is currently raising funds to continue to finish the essential infrastructure system of the province and issue several mechanisms and policies to create favourable conditions to attract many economic sectors as well as develop the investment and tourism.

By May 8/2015, the province has attracted 242 tourism investment projects with a total area of 6.826,54 hectares, of which 169 projects, with the areas of 4.278,87 hectares and total capital of VND 138, 889 billion have been certified. The Phu Quoc island district is attracting more local tourism projects with 187 projects, including 147 projects with the area of 3,766 hectares and total registered capital of VND 134,029 billion. These projects are invested to operate hotels and resorts and commercial centres and travel services; the largest one is Phu Quoc Vinpearl Resort on an area of 300 hectares.

Tourist accommodation in the province has improved in both quality and quantity, focusing on key tourism areas of Phu Quoc, Rach Gia and Ha Tien. This initially responds effectively to the accommodation needs of the travellers. By May 8, 2015, the province has had 361 tourist accommodation facilities with 7,958 rooms, with 118 hotels with more than 3,347 rooms compared to 2011; there are two 5-star hotels, six 4-star hotels, and three 3-star hotels, and thirty three 2- star hotels and sixty eight 1- star hotels, and the rest are standard tourist hostels.

In the next 5 years, Kien Giang wants to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector. To realize the objectives, what key solutions will the province focus on?

The socio-economic strategy development in the 5 years of 2016 to 2020, Kien Giang has set a target of developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector with rapid growth and sustainability to help Kien Giang become an attractive destination as well as a tourist centre of Mekong Delta, of the country and of the region. Striving to 2020, Kien Giang will welcome 6.88 million of passengers, including 450,000 international visitors, an average growth of 10.2 percent of number of passengers per year and annual sales increased by 22 percent per year.

To achieve these objectives, the province will review and adjust a complete Master plan for tourism development, with a focus on the planning of the resorts and tourist routes as a basis for implementing the investment projects in the essential infrastructure of Ha Tien and Kien Luong. Besides, the province will mobilize the investment in the infrastructure, gradually modernizing four key tourist areas including Phu Quoc; Ha Tien, Kien Luong; Rach Gia, Kien Hai; and U Minh Thuong, and the neighbourhoods. And Phu Quoc will be the highest priority areas for investment and become an international tourism destination with high competitiveness; Ha Tien is a national tourism investment and by 2020, will be a coastal tourist city. Other activities include investment, repairing and renovation of the historical and cultural areas, scenic and cultural sports, and sport centres to give better experiences for the tourists.

Besides, Kien Giang continues to study and propose the investment incentives to create more favourable investment environment for the potential investors to invest in the province. The province is implementing the policies to encourage and support the training of the labour force in the tourism and improve the quality of schools and training institutions linked to the practices of the tourism industry, particularly with a focus on improving management skills, language, and the professionalism of the tourism activities.

The province is also strengthening the environmental protection and building the civilized tourist destinations with safety, friendliness and sanitation; promoting the image of the Kien Giang to be an important tourism destination of tourists of the country and the image of Phu Quoc as a centre for eco-tourism with high quality resorts at regional and international standards in the future. Also, the province considers enhancing the domestic and international cooperation to diversify the visitors; accelerating the quality of tourism products of the Mekong Delta, as well as to promoting mass media to introduce the provincial tourism to more people, along with the immediate focus on directing and well-organizing the National Tourism Year 2016 of Phu Quoc and the Mekong Delta.

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