Vietnam's Phu Quoc sets sights on becoming global eco-tourism hub

With its unique forest-and-marine ecosystem and generous incentives, Phu Quoc Island off the coast of Kien Giang Province in southern Vietnam, dubbed a 'pearl island,' is undergoing a transformation to compete with top global destinations like Bali and Phuket.

In 2024, Phu Quoc reached a major milestone, welcoming nearly six million visitors, including close to one million international arrivals, and generating more than VND21 trillion (US$840 million) in revenue.

However, to truly become a world-class eco-tourism hub, the island still faces serious challenges in infrastructure, environmental management, and service quality.

   Challenges, breakthrough solutions

According to Dr. Tang Tan Loc from Tay Do University in Can Tho City, while Phu Quoc has strong appeal, the surge in tourism poses difficulties for sustainable growth.

"To achieve a breakthrough in tourism, Phu Quoc must invest in training, compete for talent, and, most importantly, adopt policies that retain high-quality human resources to serve upscale international travelers," Dr. Loc stressed.

Associate Professor Dr. Huynh Van Da from Can Tho University raised a red flag -- the island is reaching its limits in terms of land, transport infrastructure, airport capacity, and waste treatment.

"Authorities should conduct a comprehensive environmental assessment and strategically invest in waste and wastewater treatment facilities, as environmental concerns are a major factor for tourists," he advised.

Dr. Hoang Ngoc Hien from the Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade recommended that the local government invest in modern healthcare infrastructure, tackle noise and waste pollution from the night-time economy, and enhance cybersecurity to safeguard tourist rights.

From a business perspective, Pham Duc Huy, vice-president of Sun Group's southern region, emphasized the urgent need to expand Phu Quoc International Airport, describing it as "a critical bottleneck in bringing more visitors to the island."

He also advocated for a more flexible visa policy and AI training programs for locals to better engage with international tourists.

VinGroup has demonstrated its commitment to a 'Green Phu Quoc' through initiatives such as 'Green Wednesday' (weekly trash collection and tree care), the 'One Million Green Steps' campaign during the recent April 30 holiday with over 1,000 participants, and the 'Act for a Blue Ocean' beach clean-up held on World Oceans Day 2025, which mobilized 500 volunteers to clean Ganh Dau Beach.

   Roadmap to sustainable growth

According to Bui Quoc Thai, director of the Kien Giang Department of Tourism, Phu Quoc is undergoing a major transformation to become a leading regional and international tourism city.

The department has partnered with IDIC JSC to implement a master plan titled 'Building Phu Quoc into a National and International Center for High-Quality Services, Eco-Tourism, and Marine-Island Tourism.'

At present, one of the most pressing issues is that Phu Quoc's compliance with the Global Sustainable Tourism Criteria (GSTC) stands at just 13 percent -- significantly below Da Nang (30 percent) and Bali (72 percent).

Kien Giang has set goals to reach 30 percent by 2030 and 70 percent by 2045 to position Phu Quoc competitively against destinations like Bali, Phuket, and the Maldives.

The development plan targets improvements in infrastructure, environmental pollution control, and service quality. It aims for zero emissions by 2030, full conversion to electric vehicles, and treating 50 percent of the island's waste with renewable energy.

With the opportunity to host APEC 2027, the province is accelerating infrastructure upgrades and developing the Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) sector.

Once airport expansion is completed, Phu Quoc is expected to welcome 10 million visitors annually by 2030, including 2.5 million international tourists and generating an estimated VND50 trillion ($1.92 billion) in revenue.

Nguyen Vu Khac Huy, vice-chairman of the Kien Giang Tourism Association, highlighted Phu Quoc's exceptional natural assets -- from its mountainous terrain and pristine beaches to its favorable climate.

He called for a dedicated tourism promotion budget, the creation of a digital cultural park, and training for 20,000 workers, 5,000 of whom should be equipped with 'green skills.'

"With strong determination, Kien Giang is committed to building an internationally recognized eco-tourism and marine destination in Phu Quoc that embodies sustainable development," said director Thai.


   Phu Quoc's numbers

Phu Quoc covers nearly 600 square kilometers and is Vietnam's largest island city, home to 321 investment projects worth a combined VND340 trillion ($13.07 billion).

As of early 2025, the island had welcomed more than 3.5 million visitors, including over 780,000 international tourists, contributing to Kien Giang Province's total tourism revenue of approximately VND23 trillion ($883.2 million).

The 2025 target is seven million visitors. However, major obstacles remain: overloaded infrastructure, airports, and seaports.

The adoption of artificial intelligence and Geographic Information System (GIS) technologies for environmental monitoring and waste management is expected to be key to Phu Quoc's sustainable future.

Chi Quoc - Kim Thoa - Tuoi Tre News

(2025/06/11-17:55)