Sustainable development of tourism economy in Phu Quoc Island, Kien Giang Province, Vietnam: Current situation and prospects

Abstract

Located in the Gulf of Thailand, Phu Quoc is the largest island of Vietnam. Dubbed the “Pearl Island”, Phu Quoc is well-known for its wealth given by nature. In 2019, Phu Quoc was voted as one of the best tourist destinations in Asia and the top 5 autumn destinations in Asia-Pacific by CNN. Thanks to its advantageous geographical location as well as rich and diverse natural, cultural and human resources, Phu Quoc has been aiming to develop into an important sea-based economic hub, especially in terms of the tourism economy. Over time, Phu Quoc has experienced major changes and focused on tourism as a pillar for economic development. Therefore, it is necessary to consider and evaluate the potential and current situation of the tourism economy in Phu Quoc so as to propose solutions and policies. Analyzing the potential and current situation of developing the tourism economy in Phu Quoc, the article proposes 4 solutions for the sustainable tourism development of the island in the future.