Building Phu Quoc into a high-quality service and eco-tourism center

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh views traditional craft products of Phu Quoc. Photo: VNA.

Affirming the brand on the world tourism map

According to the People's Committee of Kien Giang province, after nearly 20 years of implementing Decision No. 178/2004/QD-TTg, the face of the "island city" has had many positive changes. The economic growth rate has always been high, reaching nearly 19.6%/year. Most of the socio-economic indicators have increased, the economic structure has shifted in the right direction, rapidly increasing the proportion of trade - services, construction industry, and decreasing agriculture.

From a locality with no investment projects, by 2023, it had attracted 321 investment projects, with a total registered investment capital of over 412 trillion VND, accounting for 42.8% of the total number of projects in the province. The total social capital for basic construction investment has continuously increased every year, reaching 21,615 billion VND by 2023, an increase of nearly 64 times compared to 2004.

Phu Quoc, a little-known island district, attracted only over 130,000 tourists in 2004. By 2023, it had welcomed about 5.57 million tourists, an increase of 42.7 times compared to 2004; of which international visitors were over 560,000, accounting for 4.48% of the country.

In particular, Phu Quoc has affirmed its brand on the world tourism map, with many tourism products of regional and international stature such as: The cable car system at Hon Thom was awarded a certificate by Guinness as the longest cable car in the world, Grand World entertainment complex, Safari semi-wild zoo, Phu Quoc Casino... In 2023, the world's leading travel magazine Travel + Leisure honored Phu Quoc Island as "One of the new stars of Vietnam tourism"...

However, the state management apparatus and administrative management of the city have not kept up with the development needs, especially in construction and land management; infrastructure has been given attention and investment but is not really synchronous...; as a tourist city, Phu Quoc does not have specific and outstanding mechanisms and policies to develop tourism and attract tourists...

At the conference, delegates said that Phu Quoc has great potential and strengths, not inferior to, or even superior to, many tourist islands in the world such as: Singapore, Maldives; Jeju Island (Korea); Nami Island, Chuncheon City (Korea); Phuket Island (Thailand); Boracay Island (Philippines) ...

Many opinions say that, with the vision of developing Phu Quoc into an international-class tourist city, there needs to be outstanding and specific mechanisms and policies, piloting a number of new policies, creating conditions for Phu Quoc to develop according to the logic of "advancing", quickly affirming and competing at the top level internationally.

Promote Phu Quoc's development faster and more sustainably

Concluding the conference, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed that Phu Quoc has a special position, role, potential and strength and has received attention from the Party and State, with many policies, mechanisms and strategies to promote Phu Quoc's development, including Decision 178/2004/QD-TTg.

The Prime Minister said that after 20 years of implementing Decision 178, Phu Quoc has "6 advantages" including: the Party and State pay attention, have more policies, mechanisms and strategies to promote Phu Quoc's development; potential is enhanced, Phu Quoc's development space is increasingly larger; domestic and international attention is more focused on Phu Quoc; Phu Quoc's reputation and position are more firmly consolidated; strategic infrastructure in Phu Quoc is more synchronously developed, Phu Quoc's contribution to the budget revenue and people's lives is higher; Phu Quoc has more opportunities and advantages, but difficulties and challenges are also no less, especially challenges in rapid and sustainable development, green economic development, digital economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy, etc.

Pointing out 6 shortcomings, limitations, difficulties, challenges and lessons learned in the development of Phu Quoc city such as the problem of rapid development, management sometimes not keeping up with the development; environmental sanitation, human resources; electricity, water and wave infrastructure; great potential, but mechanisms and policies are still limited... The Prime Minister said that Phu Quoc is a marine economic zone with a special position in terms of economy, politics, society, tourism, services, trade, national defense and security of the whole country; developing Phu Quoc is not the sole task of Phu Quoc and Kien Giang, but a common task of the whole country with the spirit of the whole country for Phu Quoc and Phu Quoc for the whole country.

In the coming time, the Prime Minister directed the determination to build Phu Quoc into a center of high-quality services, eco-tourism, and sea tourism, a livable place, an island of regional and international stature, connecting with major economic centers in the region and the world; affirming the Vietnamese tourism brand on the world tourism map.

Accordingly, continue to innovate Phu Quoc's development thinking with the spirit of "resources originate from thinking; motivation originates from innovation; strength originates from people and businesses"; arouse, spread and elevate the aspiration to develop Phu Quoc, strongly promote the spirit of self-reliance and self-strengthening of the Party Committee, government, people and businesses; maximize potentials and strengths, take advantage of all opportunities for rapid and sustainable development.

Prioritize economic development in the direction of green, clean, beautiful, high quality associated with increased application of science and technology, innovation, strongly promoting digital transformation, green transformation, circular economy, knowledge economy, sharing economy; harmonious development, linking economy with culture, society and protection of ecological environment...

The Prime Minister requested to focus on environmental protection, especially forest protection and marine ecological environment protection, including strengthening land and resource management, adapting to climate change; strictly protecting the environment; conserving biodiversity, protecting rare and endemic species; and restoring forest ecosystems for Phu Quoc National Park.

Phu Quoc must promote administrative reform, improve the investment and business environment, enhance regional and international competitiveness, especially Phu Quoc must be able to compete regionally and internationally in attracting FDI and high-quality resources from outside; focus on developing culture and society, ensuring social security, improving people's material and spiritual life; strengthen national defense, security and defense; ensure social order and safety; promote foreign affairs and international integration; promote prevention and combat of corruption, negativity, waste...

The Prime Minister said that, based on the conference, the Government will develop a project and issue appropriate documents to submit to competent authorities for consideration and decision, as a basis for implementing Phu Quoc development more quickly and sustainably.

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