New Delhi (VNA) – Tourism potential of the Mekong Delta provinceof Kien Giang was introduced to Indian travel companies in a recent roadshow inNew Delhi, India.

The roadshow was organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in the Southern Asiancountry and a delegation from Kien Giang province led by Chairman of theprovincial People’s Committee Pham Vu Hong.

Hong briefed about local socio-economic development as well as tourism strengths,including enchanting landscapes with five untouched archipelagos and Kien Giangbiosphere reserve. Particularly, 590 square-kilometre Phu Quoc island has beeninvested heavily to become a regional eco and resort tourism hub.

Kien Giang province welcomes investment projects in economic zones, key tourismareas as well as agriculture, he added.

The delegation is on a visit to India from December 17-19 to promote trade,investment and tourism as well as discuss measures to bolster cooperation withIndian firms.

Along with New Delhi, they continue promotion activities in Vijayawada city inthe southeast Indian state of Andhra Pradesh.

Phu Quoc Island has become one ofthe hottest holiday spots in the country in recent years as the local andcentral governments have gone ahead with ambitious plans to develop it into aninternational hub for eco-tourism, resort tourism and amusement and a regionalfinancial centre.

Since the island was connected to the national electrical grid and a visawaiver policy which gives foreigners a 30-day visa-free stay was adopted in2014, foreigners have been flocking to the island.

According to figures from the localadministration, the island received 1.96 million visitors in 2017, a 35 percentyear-on-year increase. It included more than 360,000 foreign visitors, up 72percent. This year, the resort island expects towelcome about 2.5 million tourist arrivals.

Tourists from countries such as Thailand,Singapore, Cambodia, China, and South Korea, but also from faraway places likeSweden, Russia, the UK, and Italy, travel here more often now thanks to directflights from many countries to Phu Quoc International Airport. Some 70-80flights arrive and depart from the airport every day, including eight to 10international flights.

Apart from its natural beauty, Phu Quoc islandalso attracts visitors with its luxury resorts, golf courses, the animalsafari, and casinos.

Under the master plan to develop Phu Quoc into aspecial administrative economic zone, many incentives have been offered toinvestors to help the island achieve its full potential. Its corporate andpersonal income taxes are the lowest in the country; land rents are waived forthe first four years and cut by 50 percent for the next nine.-VNA