VietNamNet Bridge – Due to huge tourist growth, Phu Quoc Island will need around 3,000 new hotel rooms in the next two to three years to meet the increasing demand, said a provincial official.

International tourists are seen at the Sao Beach in Phu Quoc Island off Kien Giang Province. The island is now in dire need of hotel rooms to cater to a fast-increasing number of tourists.

Le Minh Hoang, director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism in Kien Giang Province, Phu Quoc Island welcomed around 38,000 tourists per month at the start of the year, but this number has now doubled to around 70,000 per month. Currently, the island has approximately 2,900 rooms, with only 600 rooms having star ratings.

“Tourists are flocking to Phu Quoc while few new hotels are being built,” Hoang said.

Phu Quoc International Airport opened at the end of last year creating a stepping stone for Phu Quoc’s high tourist growth. Some investors have also started tourism projects but the implementation progress is slow.

“By the end of the year, Phu Quoc will have two to three new hotels, but the number of rooms is still small with only 100-200 rooms each. We need big hotels which can supply 500-600 rooms and good services,” he said.

According to Hoang, the hotel room shortage has made the province reconsider plans to attract overseas tourists to Phu Quoc Island. “We have built up plans to open road and sea routes from Phu Quoc to Thailand and Cambodia but are carefully considering accommodation plans.”

Next week, representatives of Kien Giang, Ca Mau, Tien Giang provinces and Can Tho City together with the Thai ambassador in Vietnam will study a sea route connecting Phu Quoc Island with destinations in Thailand and Cambodia.

“Kien Giang, Thailand and Cambodia have prepared a plan for sea tourism, but we want to re-study it and cooperate with other provinces in the Mekong Delta to attract tourists,” he said.

The province will propose the Government to open an air route between Phu Quoc and Thailand to promote tourism development. The airport in Phu Quoc is now able to handle large aircraft, while airports in Thailand can also welcome adjoining international flights.

Source: SGT