Nhan Dan Online – The number of visitors to the Mekong River Delta in the first six months of this year has reached 10 million, including 730,000 foreigners, increasing 8.7% over the same period of 2009.

The figure was reported at the conference on promoting tourismin the Mekong River Delta during the first six months in 2010, held recently in Kien Giang province by the Mekong River Delta Tourism Association.

According to the conference, this brought to the delta a total revenue of VND 1,521 billion (around US$ 80 million), an increase of 27.8% over the same period of the previous year.

It also underlined existing problems of tourism in the region which restricted the delta’s tourism potential, such as the shortage of high-quality and diversified tourism products.

The conference urged localities to strengthen co-operation to make full use of their  tourism potential and make more interesting tours for visitors to promote tourism in the province and region in response to the National Tourism Promotion Programme 2010.

Participants also highlighted the role of the association for implementing the Mekong River Delta Tourism Development Project and boosting co-operation among the regional provinces to further improve tourism in the delta.

Delegates pointed out the urgent need to raise the professionalism of tourist staff through training courses and upgrading the Association’s website.