Phu Quoc, also known as the Pearl Island and located in Vietnam’ssouthwest waters, is working to attract more foreign tourists as thenumber of Russian visitors has been plummeting in the region.
Phu Quoc is the largest of the 27 islands that form the Phu Quoc district of Kien Giang province.
SinceFebruary 2014, the Anh Duong Tourist Company in Ho Chi Minh City andthe Pegas Touristik Company in Turkey have been operating direct flightsfrom Russia to Phu Quoc to encourage foreign visits to the island.
Thenumber of tourists, including Russian tourists, to Phu Quoc rosesharply in 2014, said Phung Xuan Mai, General Director of the Saigon-PhuQuoc Joint Stock Company, adding that the direct flight service wasoffered weekly with more than 200 seats on each flight.
The PearlIsland welcomed over 586,000 tourists last year, representing a yearlyincrease of 37.6 percent, and including nearly 125,000 foreigners – a21.5 percent increase.
The island also posted an 84.28 percenthike in its tourism revenue last year to over 2.2 trillion VND (104.76million USD), according to the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc district.
ViceChairman of the committee Huynh Quang Hung attributed the success to anumber of prominent events held on the island in 2014, such as the Khatvong tre (Youth Aspiration) art programme and the Miss Vietnam beautypageant, as well as the launching of new international direct flightsand major tourism facilities.
To make up for the decline inthe number of Russian tourists, the district authorities have madesubstantial efforts to promote the island to international travelcompanies from Asian and European countries, Hung said. In addition,local businesses in the hospitality industry also offer variousdiscounts on room and service prices.
Gregory Consyn, Manager ofthe Shells Resort and Spa in Phu Quoc, said his facility has an array ofspecial offers, such as discounts on rooms, free spa services, andevening parties. The resort is now focusing on attracting travellersfrom Japan and the Republic of Korea and looks forward to additionalflight routes linking the island and international destinations.
Atpresent, Phu Quoc Island offers more than 4,000 hotel rooms which canaccommodate 7,000-8,000 guests. A number of hotel and resortconstruction projects are currently under way in an attempt to cater totourism demands and position the island towards becoming aninternational tourism hub.-VNA
Phu Quoc is the largest of the 27 islands that form the Phu Quoc district of Kien Giang province.
SinceFebruary 2014, the Anh Duong Tourist Company in Ho Chi Minh City andthe Pegas Touristik Company in Turkey have been operating direct flightsfrom Russia to Phu Quoc to encourage foreign visits to the island.
Thenumber of tourists, including Russian tourists, to Phu Quoc rosesharply in 2014, said Phung Xuan Mai, General Director of the Saigon-PhuQuoc Joint Stock Company, adding that the direct flight service wasoffered weekly with more than 200 seats on each flight.
The PearlIsland welcomed over 586,000 tourists last year, representing a yearlyincrease of 37.6 percent, and including nearly 125,000 foreigners – a21.5 percent increase.
The island also posted an 84.28 percenthike in its tourism revenue last year to over 2.2 trillion VND (104.76million USD), according to the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc district.
ViceChairman of the committee Huynh Quang Hung attributed the success to anumber of prominent events held on the island in 2014, such as the Khatvong tre (Youth Aspiration) art programme and the Miss Vietnam beautypageant, as well as the launching of new international direct flightsand major tourism facilities.
To make up for the decline inthe number of Russian tourists, the district authorities have madesubstantial efforts to promote the island to international travelcompanies from Asian and European countries, Hung said. In addition,local businesses in the hospitality industry also offer variousdiscounts on room and service prices.
Gregory Consyn, Manager ofthe Shells Resort and Spa in Phu Quoc, said his facility has an array ofspecial offers, such as discounts on rooms, free spa services, andevening parties. The resort is now focusing on attracting travellersfrom Japan and the Republic of Korea and looks forward to additionalflight routes linking the island and international destinations.
Atpresent, Phu Quoc Island offers more than 4,000 hotel rooms which canaccommodate 7,000-8,000 guests. A number of hotel and resortconstruction projects are currently under way in an attempt to cater totourism demands and position the island towards becoming aninternational tourism hub.-VNA
