Int’l flights to Phú Quốc surge in first half

KIÊN GIANG In the first half of 2024, international flights to Phú Quốc island in the southern province of Kiên Giang increased by 186 per cent, and international visitors rose by 134.8 per cent compared to the same period in 2023. These positive trends underscore the growing appeal of Phú Quốc’s tourism sector and its emerging status as a prominent destination.

International tourists bask in the sun and relax on the Khem Beach, Phú Quốc. Photo courtesy of Sun Group.

A new magnet for Korean and Taiwanese tourists

Recently, the Republic of Korea’s airline Eastar Jet announced the launch of new flights from Cheongju to Phú Quốc, operating four times a week. With the addition of Eastar Jet to this route, there are now four RoK airlines providing direct flights to Phú Quốc, including Korean Air, Jin Air, and Jeju Air.

According to a recent survey conducted by Rankify Korea, Phú Quốc has emerged as the premier destination for Korean tourists, surpassing other popular locations such as Đà Nẵng, Nha Trang, Bangkok, Phuket, and Kyoto.

Phú Quốc is not only gaining traction in attracting Korean tourists but is also emerging as a significant competitor in the region, increasingly appealing to Taiwanese travellers. Currently, TigerAir and Starlux Airlines operate eight flights to Phú Quốc each week.

Addressing the rising demand from Taiwanese tourists, Chih Hao Chen, Marketing Director at Starlux Airlines, disclosed the airline’s forthcoming plans: “Currently, we are utilising A321neo aircraft for our Phú Quốc flights, which have a capacity of 188 seats. Booking rates have surpassed 90 per cent for July and August, with robust ticket sales. Beginning in October, we will transition to a wide-body aircraft for the Taipei to Phú Quốc route. Additionally, we plan to inaugurate a new route from Taichung to Phú Quốc by the end of October.”

This marks a substantial increase compared to the corresponding period in 2023. During the first six months of this year, Phú Quốc received 1,947 international flights, reflecting a 186 per cent rise from the previous year. The Phú Quốc International Airport anticipates the number of international flights to reach 22 to 26 per day in the latter half of the year, 2.5 times higher than at the beginning of the year.

This highlights Phú Quốc’s success in drawing international tourists. According to the Kiên Giang Department of Tourism, the city welcomed 499,172 international visitors in the first six months of the year, achieving 74.9 per cent of the annual target and marking a 134.8 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2023.

Huỳnh Quang Hưng, Chairman of the Phú Quốc City People’s Committee, stated: “At present, Korean and Taiwanese tourists constitute a significant portion of international visitors to Phú Quốc, with European tourists following closely. In the latter half of the year, we anticipate both the number of international flights and the overall count of international visitors to continue increasing compared to the same period in 2023”.

A future for Phú Quốc?

Aside from attracting tourists from the RoK and Taiwan, Phú Quốc is also asserting its position as a “priority” for international tourists. Recently, the prestigious global travel magazine Travel+Leisure readers has voted for Phú Quốc at 2nd rank of top 25 most amazing islands in the world, surpassing resort paradises such as Bali and Phuket, just behind the Maldives. The magazine also emphasizes the surprise that Phú Quốc ranking is at the second place in the favourite list of this year.

With its favourable natural landscape and climate, Phú Quốc tourism is growing more and more attractively with its tourism infrastructure and top-notch entertainment complexes in Vietnam

Huỳnh Quang Hưng, Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phú Quốc City, states that: “In today’s society, many corporations such as Sun Group, Vingroup and BIM Group will continue to invest in high-standards tourism, service, and entertainment projects. A particular example is the southern area of the island, where projects invested by Sun Group are being voted as one of the most appealing destinations for international tourists, especially those from the RoK, Taiwan, and many other markets in the region.”

According to experts’ forecasts at the conference announcing the master plan for Phú Quốc City until 2040, Phú Quốc has the capacity to welcome 14.6 million tourists, directly competing with the huge tourist industry in Asia such as Phuket and Bali.

Besides the incomparable natural strengths and the special policy of visa exemption for tourists up to 30 days, Phú Quốc has been making efforts to attract investment, infrastructure development, and create a high-class tourism ecosystem in order to stay ahead of the wave of international visitor growth. A future where Phú Quốc surpasses the old paradises of the world is becoming a reality, faster than predicted. VNA/VNS