Phu Quoc tourism is expected to make a breakthrough and become a key economic sector.

Expectations for a breakthrough.

Mr. Huynh Quang Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quoc City, stated: In 2023, the locality exceeded 9 out of 23 targets and met 10 out of 23 targets. Notable achievements include total budget revenue exceeding 7,739 billion VND, reaching 138.69% of the plan. This marks the first time Phu Quoc's total budget revenue has surpassed 7,000 billion VND, contributing nearly 50% to the province's total revenue. The number of tourists continued to be high, contributing to the overall success of 2023, with 5.7 million visitors accounting for 67% of the province's total tourist arrivals. Other important indicators also contributed to the province's economic growth rate of 6.79%.

Phu Quoc City is striving to make tourism a key economic sector.

In January 2024, the total number of tourists was estimated at 502,500, including 82,615 international visitors; 201,036 overnight visitors; and 301,522 day-trip visitors (visiting tourist areas and attractions). Revenue from accommodation and food services reached 1,599 billion VND.

To date, Phu Quoc has 321 active investment projects in planned areas, covering approximately 10,652.80 hectares of land; with a total investment capital of approximately VND 412,657.19 billion (equivalent to USD 18 billion).

Tourists experience the Rach Tram River exploration tourism product. (Photo: Huu Tuan)

Mr. Huynh Quang Hung further informed that the budget revenue for 2024 is projected at 8,900 billion VND; the plan for 2024 is to welcome 3.5 million visitors to Phu Quoc Island, including 0.5 million international visitors; and total revenue from accommodation and food services is projected at 15,441 billion VND. However, there are also many objective factors affecting the development of tourism in the locality.

Mr. Lam Minh Thanh, Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province, affirmed: 2024 is identified as a year of acceleration and breakthrough, of special importance in successfully implementing the 5-year socio-economic development plan 2021-2025. The locality has set a growth target of 6.79%, striving for 9.5% to achieve the goal for the entire term.

At the same time, Mr. Lam Minh Thanh also emphasized that for Phu Quoc, the Provincial People's Committee expects a breakthrough, especially in mobilizing total social investment capital in the city to reach 24,000 billion VND or more, attracting at least 10 new projects. Regarding tourism, the expectation is to attract 6.5 million tourists to contribute to achieving the target of 11.2 million tourists for the whole province, making tourism a truly key economic sector. It is necessary to focus on quickly implementing solutions to restore and develop tourism; building a friendly and civilized tourism image.

Becoming a key economic sector.

Speaking to reporters, Mr. Huynh Quang Hung, Chairman of the People's Committee of Phu Quoc City, said: Connecting international flights to Phu Quoc is one of the factors promoting tourism development from markets such as Thailand, Malaysia, Russia, China, Kazakhstan, the Czech Republic, Poland, the United States, and Mongolia… In addition, Vietjet Air's opening of the Phu Quoc - Taiwan route, with a frequency of 7 round-trip flights per day, creates more opportunities for local tourism.

Tourists visiting Phu Quoc Island. Photo: Huu Tuan

"The locality is implementing a series of activities to stimulate and develop tourism under the theme 'I Love Phu Quoc' on a national scale and aiming for world-class standards, following the motto 'unique - professional - safe - clean, beautiful - civilized'," Mr. Hung informed.

Speaking with reporters, Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, Director of the Kien Giang Provincial Department of Tourism, emphasized: "Currently, the department is developing a plan to build Phu Quoc into a high-quality eco-tourism and marine tourism center of national and international stature." At the same time, the department is restructuring the tourism industry to meet the requirements of developing it into a key economic sector of the province.

Positive signals from international tourists visiting Phu Quoc further solidify the locality's position in the hearts of international visitors. (Photo: Huu Tuan)

Meanwhile, Ms. Quang Xuan Lua – Director of the Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center of Kien Giang province – affirmed: It is necessary to promote and introduce the potential and strengths; tourist areas, destinations, tours, routes and tourism activities and services of businesses; link with major provinces and cities nationwide, forming linkages of tours and routes in the key economic region of the Mekong Delta; combine with promotional activities abroad to attract investment in tourism development and attract tourists. Enhance the effectiveness of tourism promotion and marketing activities by improving quality and professionalism, focusing on key areas and ensuring competitiveness in the process of international economic integration.

“Building a tourism brand, strengthening tourism promotion and marketing efforts towards professionalization and regional linkages; developing tourism in conjunction with protecting natural resources and environmental landscapes; participating in international tourism fairs; conducting market research and assessing the province's tourism potential to select distribution channels and apply appropriate forms of promotion for tourism products, services, and destinations. Effectively implementing tourism promotion in traditional and potential markets both domestically and internationally; expanding linkages with provinces and cities nationwide, developing land, sea, and air tourism routes, and border crossings,” Ms. Quang Xuan Lua stated.

Mr. Nguyen Luu Trung – Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province emphasized: Building a Phu Quoc tourism brand with unique characteristics and strong appeal, featuring diverse tourism activities and attractions, abundant and easily accessible accommodation options, and strengthening connections and sustainably utilizing ecological resources for tourism development.

Developing spiritual tourism and promoting ecotourism under the forest canopy aims to maximize the ecological landscape values ​​of Phu Quoc National Park. The national forest and protected forest areas will be exploited for tourism activities such as: fishing; community education; scientific research; picnics; hiking and walking in the forest; sightseeing; adventure sports such as paragliding and mountain climbing; forest tours; and ecological relaxation in the forest. Developing tourism services combined with conferences and seminars on a domestic and international scale. Agricultural and cultural tourism: Utilizing and integrating local agricultural and cultural elements into the visitor experience.

Source: https://kinhtedothi.vn/du-lich-phu-quoc-ky-vong-but-pha-tro-thanh-kinh-te-mui-nhon.html