Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính inspects the Phú Quốc International Passenger Port project in Phú Quốc island city last Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo

KIÊN GIANG — Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính has asked Phú Quốc island city in the southern province of Kiên Giang to address pressing issues and mobilise resources to ensure sustainable development and enhance social and security defence.

Speaking at a meeting with its provincial and city leaders on March 30, the PM urged the island city to develop sustainable tourism with a distinct identity to improve Việt Nam’s tourism brand on the global stage.

It must focus on environmental preservation, infrastructure development, and improvement of key sectors such as tourism, healthcare, and education.

He ordered the island's authorities to use its strategic location and unique potential to become a “modern tourism hub, sea-island ecology centre, trade and service hub, and healthcare facility”.

The PM noted the importance of environmental protection solutions to preserve its biodiversity, protect rare species, restore the forest ecosystem of Phú Quốc National Park, and protect the seagrass ecosystem, rare marine animals and coral reefs.

He also urged the island city to resolve all land-related issues, streamline administrative reform, improve the business climate, and continue to tackle corruption.

Phú Quốc International Airport. Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính called on the island city to upgrade the international airport by 2030 to have a capacity of 10 million passengers per year, and 18 million after 2030. — VNA/VNS Photo

During his visit to Phú Quốc, PM Chính inspected several development projects, including Phú Quốc International Airport.

He called on Phú Quốc to upgrade the international airport by 2030 to have a capacity of 10 million passengers per year, and 18 million after 2030.

The international airport is expected to reach seven million passengers per year by 2025, far exceeding its designed capacity of 4 million passengers per year.

The PM also visited the Phú Quốc International Passenger Seaport construction site, which has a total investment of VNĐ1.64 trillion ($66.1 million) and is a multi-functional port for cruise ships and cargo vessels.

Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc during a tour to the island city last Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo

During his visit to Vinpearl Safari Phú Quốc, the PM said it was vital to adopt a biodiversity-focused approach to its development.

Touring the Phú Quốc medical centre, the PM urged city officials to improve healthcare services for residents and tourists.

He also visited the planned location of the Phú Quốc Waste Treatment Plant and Dương Đông freshwater reservoir, requesting city authorities to secure water supply for both residents and businesses.

In addition, PM Chính attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the Hòn Thơm marine tourism, resort, and entertainment complex, featuring various attractions such as a water park, theme park, aquarium, opera house and ecological resort.

The Government recently approved the general planning for Phú Quốc city up to 2040, aiming to transform the island into a developed city.

The scope of planning is the entire natural land area of nearly 590,000sq.km of Phú Quốc city, including the two wards of Dương Đông and An Thới and the seven communes of Cửa Cạn, Gành Dầu, Bãi Thơm, Hàm Ninh, Cửa Dương, Dương Tơ and Thổ Châu.

Blessed with white sand, turquoise beaches and balmy weather nearly year-round, and with two-thirds of the island covered in tropical forests, Phú Quốc is a tourism paradise.

It is the largest island in the country, almost the same size as the city-state of Singapore, and is known for its white-sand beaches and resorts, mostly located along its palm-lined southwestern coast.

Phú Quốc National Park covers more than half of the island with mountains, dense tropical jungle, hiking trails and wildlife.

Last year, Phú Quốc welcomed 2.84 million tourists, up 23 per cent year-on-year, and earned significant revenues.

Phú Quốc is home to over 300 development projects, with many already operational and more under construction, demonstrating its growth and development potential. — VNS