(Photo: Anh Dung)

According to Mr. Pham Vu Hong - Chairman of Kien Giang provincial People’s Committee, the National Tourism Year 2016 has contributed to boosting investment in tourism infrastructure projects such as resorts in Phu Quoc Island, Phu Quoc International Passenger Port, cable car system An Thoi – Hon Thom, etc.

In particular, in 2016, Kien Giang attracted 15 projects, adding to the total of 435 tourist accommodations with 10,998 rooms. Also, the province received 5.4 million tourist arrivals, increasing 24% over 2015 including 319,000 international arrivals, rising 31.4% over last year; total tourism receipt reached VND 3,532 billion.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien (Photo: Anh Dung)

Speaking at the event, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyen Ngoc Thien stressed that in 2016, Viet Nam’s tourism sector, with its efforts recorded a mark with 10 million international visitor arrivals, increasing 26.0% compared with the previous year and 62 million domestic trippers; earning over VND400 billion.

Addressing the closing ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam highly valued the contribution of tourism sector, local authorities, business and local communities nationwide, particularly Kien Giang and Mekong Delta provinces to the success of the National Tourism Year and the growth of tourism sector in 2016.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam (Photo: Anh Dung)

In 2016, many important issues related to e-visa, tourism promotion, exit and entry regulations, etc. have been settled. Furthermore, tourism service quality has been improved accordance with international standard, which will help attract visitors travelling to Viet Nam in the coming time.

Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam hoped that the National Tourism Year 2017 hosted by Lao Cai and Northwestern provinces will create more local attractions to lure tourists and impulse the development of Viet Nam tourism.

Thanh Tam