Kien Giang (VNA) - Despite the serious impact of COVID-19, drought,and saline intrusion, the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang exerted every effortto overcome the difficulties and post economic growth of over 3 percent in2020.

Vice Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chin said thelocality has fulfilled or surpassed 16 out of 22 criteria, with agriculturalproduction thriving.

The province has actively carried out measures and policies in supportof local people and businesses, thus creating motivation for economic recovery,security and defence, and social safety and order, Chin said.

Its gross regional domestic product (GRDP) hit nearly 69 trillion VND(2.99 billion USD), equal to 96.1 percent of the set target and up over 3percent year-on-year.

Amid the pandemic, drought, and saline intrusion, the agriculture sector,with the two main commodities of rice and shrimp, has provided substantial supportto Kien Giang’s economy.

Agricultural production value is estimated at 63.5 trillion VND, equalto 101.54 percent of the target and up 3.34 percent year-on-year.

Conversely, total revenue in the tourism sector is estimated at 7.8trillion VND, equal to just 39.3 percent of the target and down 57.7 percent year-on-year.

The province welcomed over 5.2 million tourists during 2020, includingnearly 185,000 foreigners, down 40.7 percent and 74 percent compared to 2019figures.

Total revenue from tourism was down by more than 12.2 trillion VND comparedto 2019.

With the pandemic largely under control, the province’s tourism has shownsome signs of recovery.

Kien Giang expects a surge in tourist numbers in the new year and lunar newyear holidays./.