Tourism potential
While An Giang stands out with its spiritual tourism strength, mountainous forest ecology and unique culture, Kien Giang is favored by nature with a majestic island system such as Phu Quoc, Nam Du, Ha Tien, and flooded ecological areas such as U Minh Thuong, Hon Dat.
In the new context, especially when merging An Giang and Kien Giang, restructuring tourism towards integrating spirituality, ecology and the sea and islands is an inevitable requirement. This is not only an immediate solution to renew tourism products, but also a long-term orientation to build a sustainable, different inter-regional brand in the picture of national and regional tourism.
An Giang is a land that converges many unique cultural and spiritual values with famous destinations such as the Ba Chua Xu Temple on Sam Mountain, Hang Pagoda, Tay An Pagoda, Cam Mountain - known as the "roof of the Western region". Spiritual pilgrimage sites in An Giang welcome millions of visitors every year, especially during the Ba Vice festival season (from the 4th lunar month). Eco-tourism in An Giang is also developing strongly with highlights such as Tra Su cajuput forest, Thoai Son rice field, O Ta Soc lake, Ta Pa lake.
Kien Giang is a bright spot for sea, island and coastal ecotourism with over 140 large and small islands, notably Phu Quoc Pearl Island - an international-class island tourism center, attracting millions of visitors each year. Ha Tien, Rach Gia, Hon Son and Nam Du are also attractive destinations, with wild beauty and diverse marine biology.
Suggestions for connecting tourist routes
According to many tourism experts, in order not to miss many development opportunities and at the same time increase the value of the experience for tourists when coming to An Giang and Kien Giang, the urgent solution is to form a chain of regional linkage products, making the most of the geographical advantages and tourism resources of the two provinces.
Accordingly, planning and developing inter-provincial tourism routes requires building tourism routes connecting the mountainous - spiritual areas of An Giang to the sea - Kien Giang island.
Some suggested routes that can be mentioned are route 1: Chau Doc (Ba Chua Xu Temple - Sam Mountain) - Nui Cam - Tra Su - Ha Tien - Nam Du; route 2: Long Xuyen - Thoai Son - Ho Ta Pa - Ha Tien - Phu Quoc; waterway: Chau Doc - Ha Tien by high-speed ship, connecting further to the island.
Along with that is a linkage of tourism products and services including the development of 3-4 day experience packages combining spirituality, ecology and sea and island resorts; Encourage travel businesses to build inter-provincial tours, tours with the theme ("From the sacred mountain to the precious sea", "Southern Green Journey"...); Develop a system of homestays, ecologicalstay systems associated with the community in Tri Ton, Tinh Bien (An Giang) and U Minh Thuong, Hon Dat (Kien Giang).
Next is digital transformation and tourism communication; training tourism human resources; preserving resources and sustainable development; attracting strategic investors.
According to the assessment, international cooperation - aimed at the ASEAN and Asian markets also helps expand tourism of An Giang and Kien Giang, including: Expanding tourism cooperation with Cambodia (through Tinh Bien - Phnom Penh border gate, Ha Tien - Kep); Coordinate the construction of waterway tours from Phnom Penh - Chau Doc - Ha Tien - Phu Quoc; Connecting flights from Phu Quoc to Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and promoting communication throughout the associated region.
The connection and development of spiritual - ecological - island tourism between An Giang and Kien Giang is considered a strategic step, creating momentum to promote comprehensive socio-economic development. The harmonious combination of cultural depth and natural beauty will create different and attractive travel experiences, contributing to enhancing the position of tourism in the Southwest region on the national and international map.
