The Mekong Delta province of Soc Trang’s investments in tourism infrastructure are paying off with a rising number of domestic and foreign tourists travelling to the province.
Last year, Soc Trang welcomed more than 2 million visitors and earned revenues of nearly 758 billion VND (nearly 33 million USD), up 54.7 percent and 90.8 percent from the figures in 2015.Tran Minh Ly, Director of the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said the development of the tourism industry has also contributed to economic development by creating more jobs and helping restructure the economy.Under a programme to develop the tourism industry 2025, Soc Trang will create more tourist attractions such as Quan Am – Linh Ung and Bon Mat (Four-sided) pagodas, Nga Nam Floating Market and the My Phuoc indigo forest.Speaking at a tourism meeting on May 8, Ly said Soc Trang also plans to develop community tourism, create new inter-provincial tourist attractions and solicit investment in cruise and homestay tourism and other accommodation.According to reports tabled at the meeting, Soc Trang has great potential in tourism, especially spiritual and religious, ecological and beach-sea tourism.However, infrastructure could be improved, the hospitality industry fails to fully visitors’ needs and tourist guides’ skills could be better, Ly said.But the industry requires better advertisement, and the province should take more measures to make itself more attractive to, he added.
