Photo: Hung Khoa
The event is under the framework of the first HCM city and Mekong Delta Tourism Connection Forum 2019.
Accordingly, a total of 179 projects are seeking investment with preferential policies for domestic and international investors. Of these, the southern hub is calling for investment in 51 projects with combined capital of USD1.81 billion.
These included 37 projects in culture-sports field with a total capital demand of VND37.22 trillion (equivalent to USD1.69 billion) and 14 projects in tourism-entertainment field with VND2.71 trillion (equivalent to USD123 million).
Localities in the eastern cluster in the Mekong Delta, including Dong Thap, Long An, Tien Giang, Ben Tre, Vinh Long and Tra Vinh provinces, are expected to attract investment in 36 projects with over VND6.7 trillion (equivalent to USD528 million).
Meanwhile the western cluster, including An Giang, Kien Giang, Hau Giang, Soc Trang, Bac Lieu, and Ca Mau provinces and Can Tho city, have 92 projects.
Bui Ta Hoang Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh city Department of Tourism said in 2018, the city and the region saw strong tourist growth with 10.9 million foreigners and 66.3 million domestic visitors.
For the Mekong Delta alone attracted 40.7 million tourists, including 37.3 million domestic visitors and 3.4 million foreigners; earning revenue of VND24 trillion, a year-on-year rise of 38%.
Currently, the delta has 42 typical tourism destinations, 12 under construction and about 53,000 hotels, 15% of which are three-star or higher hotels./.