To make Con Co become a "push" to promote Quang Tri tourism development

With its heroic revolutionary tradition, beautiful and diverse forest and marine ecosystems, Con Co Island is becoming an attractive destination for tourists from near and far. However, in order for Con Co tourism to develop more strongly and become a “push” to promote Quang Tri tourism to become a key economic sector, it is necessary to increase investment in this outpost island.

Resolution of the 17th Quang Tri Provincial Party Congress, term 2020 - 2025, determined: Developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector. Developing sea and island resort tourism; connecting historical tourism - revolutionary war of Quang Tri with tourism of localities in the region and the East - West Economic Corridor. Previously, Resolution of the 16th Quang Tri Provincial Party Congress, term 2015 - 2020 also stated: Building and developing Cua Tung - Cua Viet - Con Co Island Sea Tourism Area is one of the programs, projects, and fields with breakthroughs in socio-economic development of the province.

From the major decisions of the province, in recent years, with the special attention of the central government and the province, many resources have been prioritized for Con Co island district to invest in infrastructure to serve socio-economic development, ensure national defense and security, and maintain the sacred sovereignty of the sea and islands of the Fatherland. Con Co has transformed strongly, becoming brighter, greener, cleaner, more beautiful and bustling. In this development journey, Con Co has been planned to become a tourist island to promote socio-economic development, associated with strengthening national defense and security and is a peak in the tourism development triangle of Cua Viet - Cua Tung - Con Co.

Since 2017, when the Government and the Provincial People's Committee allowed the opening of a tourist route to Con Co, infrastructure and service quality have been continuously improved. In addition to organizing tourism activities, projects and models for developing production and tourism services have also been built, tested and implemented, bringing practical results, contributing to creating stable jobs and increasing income for people.

At the same time, a number of unique and characteristic products have been formed, gradually building and developing the Con Co tourism brand, meeting the experience needs of visitors from near and far. In 2024 alone, the number of tourists coming to Con Co was 10,384 people, an increase of nearly 2,000 people compared to 2023; total revenue from tourism services is estimated at over 13.5 billion VND. In 2025, Con Co sets a goal of welcoming 11,000 - 12,000 visitors, with tourism revenue reaching about 15 billion VND.

It can be seen that Con Co tourism is gradually developing, accounting for over 70% of the local economic structure. However, Con Co is also facing barriers. The most basic of which is that investment resources for tourism infrastructure are still limited, mainly from the state budget, there are no investment enterprises, leading to limited exploitation of potential and advantages; entertainment venues are few and unattractive. The quality of human resources serving tourism is low and unprofessional...

In October 2024, General Secretary and President To Lam visited and worked with Con Co island district. The General Secretary and President praised and highly appreciated the results achieved by the locality. At the same time, he requested that in the coming time, it is necessary to continue to strengthen national defense and security, build Con Co into a solid defense area, ensure socio-economic development associated with national defense and security protection. Continue to protect forest resources and biodiversity. Promote sustainable tourism development in an environmentally friendly direction...

In April 2025, while visiting and working with Con Co island district, Quang Tri Provincial Party Secretary Nguyen Long Hai also requested the locality to strengthen coordination with relevant departments and branches to attract capable and dedicated investors to invest in infrastructure on the island to develop a sustainable marine economy. Focus on completing the project "Developing Con Co island district to be strong in economy and stable in national defense and security" according to the conclusion of General Secretary and President To Lam...

Recently, the 31st session of the 8th term Quang Tri Provincial People's Council passed a Resolution on the policy of rearranging commune-level administrative units of the province, including converting the status quo of Con Co island district into Con Co special economic zone.

From the above issues, it can be seen that, in order for tourism to create a launching pad for Con Co to develop, and for Con Co to become a "push" to promote Quang Tri tourism to go further, it is necessary to implement synchronous and effective solutions.

In particular, it is necessary to identify the construction of the project "Developing Con Co island district to be strong in economy, stable in national defense and security" as a key, urgent, strategic task and in line with the policy of arranging administrative units. At the same time, it is necessary to concentrate highly on resources and intelligence to complete on schedule and with quality from the perspective of developing Con Co into a dual-use island, both playing a strategic role in national defense and security, and being a growth pole for marine economy, marine island ecotourism and fishing logistics services; identifying Con Co as a highlight, an important connecting center on the eastern coastal tourism axis.

Consider continuing to allocate reasonable land funds for residential areas, services - hotels, public works on the island; continue to propose implementing the national grid power supply project for Con Co. This is a decisive factor to orient tourism development, inviting businesses to invest in accommodation facilities, services and infrastructure for tourism.

Do a good job of promoting Con Co tourism on domestic and foreign media. Create a favorable and open environment for businesses to invest in infrastructure and develop tourism products on the island.

Pay attention to investing in renovating and upgrading tourist attractions and landscape beautification; support the improvement of service quality and the development of tourism services for islanders. Attach importance to linking Con Co tours with other tours because this is a decisive factor in promoting, increasing choices and attractiveness for tourists.

Con Co tourism is based on a diverse, unique, and pristine natural environment, which is what many tourists want to experience. Therefore, it is necessary to equip basic knowledge about geological structure, water areas, ecosystems, and history for those who work directly in the tourism sector and island residents to improve the quality of tourism products, promote the attractiveness, and protect the natural environment of Con Co.

Huy Nam

Source: https://baoquangtri.vn/de-con-co-tro-thanh-cu-hich-thuc-day-du-lich-quang-tri-phat-trien-193521.htm