On January 15, Phu Quoc International Airport said that on average, there are about 32-35 flights every day bringing domestic and foreign tourists to Phu Quoc for sightseeing and relaxation. Domestic flights from Phu Quoc - Ho Chi Minh City; Phu Quoc - Hanoi... still have flight schedules, but the number of domestic tourists visiting the island has not really "heated up" again.
Foreign tourists are crowded, domestic tourists rarely book tours
Mr. Du To Tuan - Director of Vietravel Rach Gia City Branch - informed that international visitors from Korea, India, Thailand, Mongolia... are bustling to Phu Quoc. However, domestic visitors have not booked tours or routes to Phu Quoc to play during the Lunar New Year 2024 because people are still hesitant in choosing a place to go.
Mr. Tuan added that last year's Tet, domestic tourists had plans to travel early. However, this Lunar New Year 2024, customers have changed and are waiting because the economic situation is very difficult; domestic tourists (family guests) tend to drive more by themselves, and rarely book tours or routes in advance.
"Domestic tourists are also reluctant to travel during peak times during holidays and Tet, fearing high costs. Some people only choose to buy the tour part for accommodation, or to visit attractions. Now I think it's hard to predict, maybe Tet will explode, or maybe they will travel more widely," said Mr. Tuan.
Phu Quoc forest discovery tour has been chosen and experienced by many tourists.
Ms. Lam Thi Diem Tram - Director of Phu Quoc Pearl Island Tourism and Events Company Limited - also said that domestic tourists booked tours and routes with the company to experience and visit Phu Quoc during this Tet holiday, but the number did not increase significantly because they were only family guests.
"This Tet, we also launched many tours and routes to explore Phu Quoc to serve customers such as: deep-sea fishing tour, exploring Rach Vem - Ham Rong cape combined with SUP rowing, kayaking, and tours to explore Phu Quoc national forest. These tours will serve customers from medium to high-class with preferential prices of 500,000 - 3.6 million VND/person/tour", Ms. Tram said.
The State, businesses and people work together in tourism
To attract domestic and foreign tourists, Mr. Tran Quoc Khanh - Chairman of Kien Giang Tourism Association - said Phu Quoc not only needs new, unique and impressive tourism products, but also needs the combined strength of the locality, combining businesses and people to do tourism together.
Through that, the locality will properly promote Phu Quoc tourism, attracting visitors.
The Kien Giang Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center said that the locality will soon organize a tourism week in Phu Quoc to introduce, promote and exploit a variety of tourism products such as: spirituality, history and tourism associated with sea sports activities, exploring mountains and forests, and welcoming guests.
The number of domestic tourists still coming to Phu Quoc has not really "exploded" as expected by local tourism businesses.
Previously, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Nhan - Vice Chairman of Kien Giang Provincial People's Committee - requested the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center to step up promotion and advertising to potential markets such as India, Korea, Thailand, Japan... and some domestic markets, contributing to introducing the beautiful image of Kien Giang land and people.
"Kien Giang will focus resources on fundamentally solving the problem of waste in Phu Quoc. The locality also needs to raise awareness among people about maintaining public hygiene, selling at the right price, and being friendly so that tourists can come and enjoy themselves and come back again," said Mr. Nhan.
