The world’s longest over-sea cable car connects An Thoi Town and Hon Thơm Island on Phu Quoc Island. It opened in February. (Photo courtesy of Sun Group) Kien Giang(VNS/VNA) - Phu Quoc island in the Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang ispouring more investment in tourism and transport infrastructure to become adriving force for development in the region.
Mai Van Huynh, Chairman of the PhuQuoc District People’s Committee, said that in recent years it had mobilisedsources to finance transport projects via road, air and sea that would connectto major urban centres in the country.
The laying of a 110kV undergroundcable for the Ha Tien - Phu Quoc power supply project has been completed, whileconstruction on Duong Dong reservoir, which supplies water at a capacity of21,000 cubic metres per day, is underway.
A project to build a wastetreatment plant for the island is near completion. New urban areas andconcentrated residential area projects are also being built on the island.
Phu Quoc has attracted 279projects covering a total area of 10,754 ha, according to the management boardof Phu Quoc Economic Zone.
Of the figure, 249 projects,covering a total area of over 9,000 hectares, have been granted investmentcertificates with total registered capital of 270.5 trillion VND (11.6 billionUSD).
As many as 36 projects have beenput into operation with total investment of over 14.75 trillion VND (633.37million USD).
In addition, 35 projects areunder construction with total investment of 95.731 trillion VND (4.11 billionUSD).
The island has attracted a numberof tourism projects, including Vinpearl complex, a safari park, and the world’slongest cable car, which connects An Thoi town with Hon Thom island.
According to the Phu QuocDistrict People’s Committee, the district is expected to have 500 hotels andother accommodations with more than 15,000 rooms by the end of this year.
Last year, Phu Quoc received 2million visitors, and more than 2.3 million tourists are expected this year, ofwhich foreign tourists account for 22 percent.
A list of projects calling forinvestment by 2020 include foreign direct investment (FDI) and investment inthe form of public-private partnerships (PPP).
In addition, Kien Giang provinceis calling for investment in a number of urgent projects in Phu Quoc, includinga project to build a 500-bed resort-style hospital covering 10 ha at Bai Truongcomplex in Duong To commune.
The Bai Thom Eco-tourism Areawhich covers more than 42 ha in Bai Thom commune will be able to serve about1,200-1,600 people a day.
A waste treatment plant with acapacity of 150 tonnes per day covering a 5.25-ha area in Duong To commune isalso being built.
In addition, Phu Quoc has alsocompleted the first phase of its smart city project. Under the project,the island will offer free public wifi, surveillance cameras, emergencyresponse application for tourists, and environmental monitoring equipment, aswell as e-government.
The district has set up the Phu QuocSmart City Operations Centre with an information service team that can promptlyhandle incidents.
Pham Vu Hong, Chairman of the KienGiang Province People’s Committee, said Phu Quoc had met necessary conditionsto become a special administrative economic zone.
The potential to become a SpecialAdministrative Economic Zone would add value for the tourism industry, he said.
Huynh, Secretary of the Phu QuocIsland District’s Party Committee, said that Phu Quoc would continue to issueincentives to facilitate the local economy and livelihoods.
Phu Quocwas once a sleepy area of around 100,000 people. In recent years, however, the567sq.m island has become a tourist mecca for thousands of visitors from aroundthe world.
Itis expected to become one of three Special Administrative Economic Zones,besides Van Don in Quang Ninh and Bac Van Phong in Khanh Hoa, which will offerpreferential incentives for development.
Located46km from the mainland, the island can be reached by air from HCM City withinone hour and from Hanoi within two hours.-VNS/VNA
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