An Giang (VNA) – An Giang’s tourism engine is humming even as headwinds elsewhere challenge the industry, reinforcing its claim as the Mekong Delta’s premier travel hub. A sharp upswing in arrivals and revenue is extending into other sectors, lifting the local economy.

Foreign arrivals surge nearly 50%

Data from the provincial Department of Tourism showed that An Giang pulled in more than 16.6 million visitors in the first half of 2026, a 17.1% year-on-year jump and already 66.6% of the full-year goal. Foreign arrivals crossed 1.34 million and tourism revenue exceeded 39.28 trillion VND (1.45 billion USD), or more than 56% of the annual plan.

The spike in foreign visitors underscores An Giang’s growing allure on the global tourism map and projects Vietnam’s image abroad, with Phu Quoc special zone at the centre of the story.

The island alone attracted more than 1.32 million foreigners in the period, up 50.3% from the same stretch in 2025 and hitting 65.7% of its annual target. Foreigners to Phu Quoc accounted for nearly 99% of all international arrivals in the province, serving as unofficial ambassadors beaming images of Phu Quoc, An Giang, and Vietnam to the world.

Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the provincial Department of Tourism, said the sector delivered positive results in the first half. It pushed forward tourism projects and policies while advancing international cooperation on schedule, fuelling double-digit growth in both visitor volumes and revenue.

An Giang is now deepening its digital and green push. A suite of tech-driven tools is already in place, including tourism websites integrated with virtual reality videos, a mobile visitor app, AI-powered access-control cameras at tourist sites, AI voice-guided narration, and digital tourism e-books.

Meanwhile, preparations for APEC activities in 2027 are gathering pace. Transport connections to key destinations are being upgraded, and lodging facilities are locking in investment to meet swelling demand for leisure and resort getaways.

Ambition to become leading Southeast Asian destination

An Giang’s tourism industry is determined to hit and overshoot its ambitious second-half targets, Thai said. Authorities are seeking approval of a tourism development strategy through to 2030 while moving to secure intellectual property protection for its new tourism logo and slogan.

In parallel, they will continue mapping tourism resources, promoting high-quality rural, marine and insular products, driving workforce training, pushing for more international air routes to Phu Quoc, and ensuring a civilised, safe and visitor-friendly environment, the official noted.

As part of a broader push to anchor tourism as a key economic pillar, An Giang aims to sustainably extract value from its rich and varied assets. These span the mystical spiritual-ecotourism draws of the Seven Mountains region, the scenic islands of Vietnam’s southwestern waters, the border towns of Ha Tien and Chau Doc, the Tra Su cajuput forest, U Minh Thuong National Park, and the Tien and Hau rivers.

With a rare mix of lowlands, waterways, border landscapes, forests, mountains and islands, the province offers a wide spectrum of experiences, from the globally recognised Phu Quoc island and the historic charm of Ha Tien to the spiritual pull of the Seven Mountains and landmarks such as Hon Phu Tu in Kien Luong. Together, these cultural, ecological and spiritual assets form the foundation of a tourism brand with global ambitions.

The province is targeting more than three million foreign arrivals annually by 2030 and aiming to rank among Southeast Asia’s leading destinations.

To keep the momentum going, An Giang is hastening administrative reforms and proposing broader visa exemptions to lure more foreign travellers. It is also speeding up digital transformation, adopting technology to monitor tourism market and upgrade digital visitor experiences.

Regional connectivity remains a priority, with closer cooperation targeted among Mekong Delta localities, Ho Chi Minh City, major urban centres across Vietnam and ASEAN countries. Authorities also plan to use APEC 2027 as a major platform to showcase An Giang’s tourism brand on the global stage.

For 2026, An Giang is now targeting more than 27.9 million domestic and foreign arrivals, beating its original plan by 11.6%, with tourism revenue projected to exceed 73.98 trillion VND, or 5.7% above the annual target.

The third quarter is expected to bring over 6.11 million visitors, including more than 381,000 from abroad, generating receipts of over 14.3 trillion VND. In the final quarter, arrivals are hoped to exceed 4.58 million, more than 774,000 of them are foreigners, with revenue topping 20.17 trillion VND./.