According to the Viet Nam National Administration of Tourism, in April 2024, the number of international tourists to Viet Nam reached approximately 1.6 million, marking a 58.2 per cent increase compared to the same month last year.

This brought the total number of international arrivals in the first four months of the year to 6.2 million. It increased by 68.3 per cent over the same period in 2023 and increased by 3.9 per cent compared to the golden time of the tourism industry in 2019, before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Until now, most regions across the country have recorded strong growth in foreign tourist arrivals. Among them, Phu Quoc, which is located in Kien Giang Province, stands out.

In the first four months of 2024, Kien Giang welcomed 221,657 South Korean visitors, a 165 per cent increase from 83,600 visitors in the same period of 2023. Taiwanese visitors to Kien Giang skyrocketed by 1100 per cent, from 6,838 arrivals in the first four months of 2023 to 82,135 in the same period of 2024, which is 12 times higher. Statistics indicate that about 90 per cent of these South Korean and Taiwanese tourists visited Phu Quoc.

In the first quarter of 2024, Phu Quoc welcomed over 500,000 international tourists, reflecting a growth of over 200 per cent year-on-year. During the five-day holiday from April 30 to May 1, foreign visitor numbers increased 2.4 times compared to domestic tourists, a 12 per cent rise from the same period in 2023.

These positive trends are partly the result of close cooperation between local authorities and the business community to enhance Phu Quoc's competitive edge in tourism.

Alongside taking advantage of the unique strengths of local nature and culture to develop new tourism products, Phu Quoc has focused on developing a professional workforce, investing in infrastructure and facilities to meet visitor demands and create many world-class destinations.

Numerous luxury hotels and resorts with unique designs have placed Phu Quoc on the global luxury resort map. For instance, the JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay is 'a masterpiece on Kem beach' designed by the 'resort king' Bill Bensley. It has contributed to positioning the island as a familiar high-end destination for billionaires, wealthy individuals and many domestic and international celebrities.

Recently, a representative of Phu Quoc - Premier Village Phu Quoc - was honoured in Tripadvisor's 2024 Travellers' Choice Best of the Best Awards. It ranked in the top three Luxury Hotels in Viet Nam, the top 21 Luxury Hotels in Asia and the top 10 Hotels and Resorts in Viet Nam.

According to a representative of Sun Group, a key investor in Phu Quoc, over the past eight years, the group has built over 60 high-end entertainment, resort and real estate projects. Together with the locality, the group expects to position Phu Quoc as a distinctive global destination.

The vision of Pearl Island is to become one of the must-visit places for foreign visitors, comparable to renowned travel paradises, including Boracay, Bora Bora and the Maldives.

On May 15, the Press Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Kien Giang Province coordinated to organise a tour of Phu Quoc for foreign diplomatic and press representatives residing in Viet Nam.

During the programme, the delegation enjoyed a comprehensive experience at Phu Quoc's unique attractions within the resort and entertainment complex in Sunset Town, a project by Sun Group. The trip left a lasting impression on this island and its people.

Rosa Maria, the Embassy's Third Secretary and Vice Consul of the Philippines in Viet Nam, said: "Our country has many beaches, but no cable cars, no ecosystems, no night shows like yours. They are unique features you cannot find easily in the Philippines. Phu Quoc can undoubtedly become a new paradise in the world."

Similarly, Aida Safura Niza, Deputy Head of Mission from the Malaysia Embassy in Viet Nam, added: "I am very impressed with the array of activities happening in Phu Quoc. The Kiss of the Sea and the Kiss Bridge are things everyone must see and experience. I believe that in the next five to 10 years, Phu Quoc's popularity will continue to soar."

With its unique advantages and strategic investments from major groups like Sun Group and Vingroup, Phu Quoc's allure is set to grow even further in the future.