Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien: Phu Quoc is qualified to become a luxury destination

ANTD.VN - According to Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien, former Director of the Vietnam Economic Institute, Phu Quoc can completely become the most luxurious and worthy island in the world, if it is given the appropriate mechanisms.

- Reporter: Please evaluate the potential and opportunities of Phu Quoc to become the leading luxury destination in Vietnam, even the world ?

Associate Professor Dr. Tran Dinh Thien : In principle, Phu Quoc has all the fundamental conditions to become a luxurious, world-class, even first-class destination. Phu Quoc has beautiful natural resources that have not yet been fully exploited. Behind Phu Quoc is a "powerful" rear, the entire Mekong Delta and the Southeast region... If we connect Phu Quoc with Con Dao and Nha Trang, we will see a wonderful sea belt, truly superlative.

Assoc.Prof.Dr.Tran Dinh Thien

Second, no other place in Vietnam has won as many tourism and tourism real estate awards as Phu Quoc. And all of them are high-class titles. We know that tourism development is a combination of two factors: one is the inherent, including natural resources, accumulated historical and cultural resources. Phu Quoc has affirmed this factor.

La Festa Phu Quoc Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton has a stunning view of the new iconic Kissing Bridge.

But that is not enough. Phu Quoc must also add modern values, “modern added values”, to meet the trends and needs of the modern world. Without adding new values, Phu Quoc will find it difficult to compete for international development.

The third issue is culture. Phu Quoc must be a coordinate of integrating Eastern and Western cultures, in which the soul is Phu Quoc’s identity. Phu Quoc has an identity integrating forests – mountains – seas and Southern qualities, with honest, decent, spirited people, a soul as vast and liberal as the sea, the spirit of discovery and creativity of “pioneers”… Those cultural features must be shaped, preserved, strengthened and promoted in the space of modern integration.

The fourth issue is that Phu Quoc has a consistent urban development axis that is “smart”, oriented towards becoming a high-tech service center – innovation and creativity.

The last point I want to mention is connectivity. To elevate Phu Quoc to international standards, connectivity must be better, must be more excellent. Currently, Phu Quoc has achieved a very high level of international connectivity priority. But compared to the potential, compared to the expectations for Phu Quoc, what is currently available is still far away.

- Is it true that Ngoc Island has not yet grasped all the advantages to develop itself, especially to become a new destination of the world, sir?

When comparing Phu Quoc to a natural treasure, a national asset, and also a human asset, as I said, Phu Quoc has not yet fully grasped the opportunity to fully exploit its advantages. But the story of not taking advantage of its advantages must be considered at each level to have an accurate assessment.

For example, the State has paid attention to and raised the issue of building Phu Quoc into an administrative-economic special zone, creating a “special” institution, a space, environment, and a superior development method for Phu Quoc. But in reality, that has not been achieved. That means at the national level, we have missed a very basic factor and condition for Phu Quoc to develop to its full potential.

In the process of developing Phu Quoc in reality, there are aspects that we have not fully exploited. Phu Quoc has attracted a lot of high-class private investment, but the organization and conditions to ensure the entire system operates synchronously have not been achieved. Such as traffic infrastructure - urban infrastructure. Then the coordination of industries such as tourism with aviation, with urban management, or visa regulations for international visitors are not synchronized...

It can be said that Phu Quoc has reached a fairly high level in terms of “modern urban”. Some big investors have created a superior urban portrait for Phu Quoc. The South Island, the North Island, the areas of Vingroup and Sun Group are of very high class. However, some other routes have not reached that level, for example, the environmental sanitation route, or the issue of social order, and the cultural heritage, the cultural character of Phu Quoc is very good but has not been shaped, has not been promoted.

I think there is more to be done to make Phu Quoc a national destination but one with global reach. Phu Quoc needs to have that opportunity, and Phu Quoc can do it.

Fireworks light up Sunset Town in the South of Phu Quoc Island

- Recently, there has been a wave of domestic tourists “turning their backs” on Phu Quoc. After negative feedback, the Phu Quoc government has taken strong actions to restore the image of the Pearl Island, such as determining to stabilize prices and committing to strictly handle price gouging… Are those actions enough - or do we need stronger solutions, sir?

Those changes are very meaningful. The government has learned many valuable lessons and has started to deal with the problems strongly.

But it should be noted that, in addition to efforts to resolve short-term concerns, the government must focus on building a “modern smart city”. Because Phu Quoc is shaping up to be of international standard, the government must be smart and modern. Phu Quoc must be allowed to experiment with a superior urban government. Otherwise, Phu Quoc will “fall behind”. The government must have a vision, superior capacity, and the ability to organize a high-class modern life. To do so, it must be given the best rights and conditions to exercise its rights. Otherwise, everything must be asked for. Continuing to ask for priority and preferential treatment over rural districts but the level remains the same is unacceptable. That is what must be emphasized.

This is an opportunity for us to start over, to renew, to have a modern, internationally competitive government; not just to solve trivial problems. We must change the government system like the “special economic zone” approach. That strategic vision must come first.

People and tourists flock to the night market by Vui Phet beach (VUI-Fest Bazaar)

Phu Quoc must put itself in the position of following behind and learn lessons, especially when the corporations that are helping Phu Quoc shape its image have many such lessons. The best way is for Phu Quoc to discuss with these corporations as partners, development companions to establish appropriate governance and development strategies. That will help Phu Quoc have an exemplary government, a model for other cities.

- Looking at the world, we see very luxurious destinations that many tourists and the upper class only want to go to spend money, while Phu Quoc, with a lot of potential, has been quite "struggling" for many years. Can you share your opinion so that Phu Quoc can learn lessons from international stories?

I think Phu Quoc businesses and authorities basically know these lessons. It’s just that there are many issues that we are still afraid of, hesitant about, and handle with the old stance and old way of thinking. We are afraid of the new, so even though we “open early”, we are still slow and find it difficult to seize opportunities. For example, organizing casinos. Before, it was “absolutely not”. Now, we have approached “opening”, gradually opening up, and controlling, and have not seen any problems. Only opportunities are lost. It is an entertainment service, but a “special” service, “conditional”, but it requires a broad and open perspective.

For unique and unusual cultural tourism projects, we must have a cultural approach - consider, evaluate, acknowledge and appreciate. Don't be the type of person who doesn't know anything and then slander and despise. We must have unusual and extraordinary cultural projects, whether in Phu Quoc or any other tourist destination. Many times, we only see them as different, strange, not "suitable", not familiar, looking at them with vulgar and crude eyes, then in the end no one is allowed to do them, no one can do anything new and significant. Overcoming taboos and ideas that crucify us is a challenge that cannot be underestimated.

There must be works that are “ahead of their time”, the world does not have them but Phu Quoc has them, then the world will come. To do that, the thinking must be new, must be different, especially for those who work on policy mechanisms who are often afraid of public opinion. Public opinion is used to old things, there must be a smart, wise, methodical approach to avoid conflict with it.

Thank you!

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