Phu Quoc Tourism: Warning of the risk of 'exceeding the carrying capacity' of the island

The project to turn Phu Quoc into an international-class marine eco-tourism and service center is considered feasible with sustainable development in mind. However, many experts warn of the risk of infrastructure overload, so it is necessary to carefully calculate the “carrying capacity” of the island space to ensure harmonious and long-term growth.

The information was discussed at the Consultation Workshop on the Project to build Phu Quoc into a high-quality service center, eco -tourism , and national and international sea and island tourism, organized by the Department of Tourism of Kien Giang province on the afternoon of June 6. The project, when completed, will be submitted to the Prime Minister for consideration and approval.

Overload warning

Mr. Bui Quoc Thai - Director of Kien Giang Department of Tourism - said that with an area of ​​nearly 590km², Phu Quoc is the largest island city in the country, holding a strategic position in terms of defense, economy and trade in the ASEAN region. In 2024 alone, the pearl island will welcome nearly 6 million visitors, including nearly 1 million international visitors, with total tourism revenue of more than 21,000 billion VND.

Mr. Bui Quoc Thai - Director of Kien Giang Provincial Department of Tourism.

The draft project to build Phu Quoc into a high-quality service and eco-tourism center has passed the first round of evaluation, so according to Mr. Thai, it is necessary to continue listening to the opinions of experts, scientists, and businesses to supplement and perfect it on the basis of science and practice.

“We expect that the project will be an important step in turning Phu Quoc into an international-class tourist destination, a symbol of Vietnam's sustainable development,” said Mr. Thai.

Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Da - Deputy Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Can Tho University - said that the project has a clear orientation, integrating international standards; linking tourism development with ecological conservation and indigenous culture. However, he also warned of the risk of "exceeding the carrying capacity" of the island if it is not clearly quantified and strictly controlled.

“The space on Phu Quoc Island is limited, while the number of tourists could triple in the next 10-20 years. If not carefully calculated, Phu Quoc will face the risk of infrastructure overload, affecting service quality and the image of the destination,” Mr. Da said.

Mr. Da said that there should be a specific quantitative report on the island's "capacity" in terms of technical infrastructure, natural resources and socio-cultural tolerance. The project also needs to clarify solutions for waste and wastewater treatment - existing "bottlenecks" that are negatively affecting the environment of Phu Quoc island.

Assoc.Prof.Dr. Huynh Van Da - Deputy Dean of Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, Can Tho University.

Another issue that Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Da commented on is that the current service quality on Phu Quoc Island is not uniform, the sustainable tourism index is low (about 13%, compared to 30% in Da Nang). The project needs to set goals to improve service standards, ensure competitiveness and attract long-term tourists.

"The project places high expectations on the APEC 2027 event as a 'push' to attract investment and promote Phu Quoc Island. However, if this expectation is not achieved due to objective factors, the project needs to have an alternative plan to ensure flexibility and stability in implementation," said Mr. Da.

Need for transparency in socio-economic impacts

From another perspective, Dr. Tang Tan Loc - Head of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and Communications, Tay Do University - assessed that the project has integrated goals such as Net Zero, GSTC, flexible management mechanisms, and application of technology in tourism management in line with the times. However, it is necessary to clarify socio-economic indicators, such as economic growth in the area (GRDP), job creation, and improvement of residents' lives... to clarify the real benefits of this strategy.

Conference scene. Photo: Nhat Huy.

Mr. Loc suggested that the project should add scenarios to respond to major risks such as epidemics, natural disasters, climate change... factors that have caused world tourism to falter over the past decade.

“In order for Phu Quoc to retain high-quality workers, in addition to career opportunities, it also needs policies on incentives, welfare, housing and an attractive working environment,” said Mr. Loc. He also proposed developing a smart tourism ecosystem, promoting community tourism and encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to participate in the industry value chain on the island.

In 2024, Phu Quoc will welcome nearly 6 million visitors, of which international visitors will account for nearly 1 million, with tourism revenue reaching more than VND 21,000 billion, an impressive growth rate compared to the general level of the whole country. In the first 5 months of this year, Phu Quoc is estimated to welcome more than 3.5 million visitors (reaching 48.9% of the annual plan), international visitors are estimated to welcome more than 775,000 visitors (up 78.3% over the same period, reaching 65.9% of the annual plan), total revenue reaching more than VND 17,920 billion (up 87.1% over the same period, reaching 76.3% of the annual plan).

According to Nhat Huy (TPO)

Source: https://baogialai.com.vn/du-lich-phu-quoc-canh-bao-nguy-co-vuot-qua-suc-tai-cua-dao-post326949.html