Phu Quoc island, a tourist hub in the southern province of Kien Giang, welcomed 268,000 holidaymakers, including 72,620 foreigners, in the first half of the year.
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Tourists visit a fermented fish sauce producing factory in An Thoi township
of Phu Quoc island district |
The figures marked a year-on-year rise of 26 percent and 34.8 percent, respectively, which are forecast to continue going upwardly in the second half of the year.
Phu Quoc National Park, which is covered with lush green foliage and tropical flowers, is one of the most popular scenic spots among vacationers. The 10,000-hectare area provides a rich habitat for 929 plants, 42 of which are listed in the Vietnamese and world red books of endangered flora species.
Phu Quoc prison, where nearly 40,000 revolutionaries were detained between 1967 and 1973, has also attracted over 4,810 holidaymakers both at home and abroad.
Vice Chairman of the Phu Quoc district People’s Committee Huynh Quang Hung said the island district will put into use many high-class resorts and hotels housing more than 2,000 rooms.
It will continue to create favourable conditions for investors to speed up tourism projects there, Hung added.
Notably, a policy to grant a 30-day visa exemption for foreign passport holders visiting the island took effect on March 10. The move is expected to help transform the world-famous tourist hub into a national and international hi-end holiday heaven.
Dubbed “ Paradise Pearl Island ”, Phu Quoc welcomed 94,000 foreign visitors out of its total 416,000 arrivals last year.
It is expected to gross 771 million USD from providing hospitality services to at least 2 million tourists annually by 2020, 40 percent of them foreigners.