Phu Quoc Island may be set to host the largest sea festival in Southeast Asia in 2017, according to the Epizode sea festival cooperation project being arranged by Epizode (a Russian entertainment company), the Dong Do Show company (a Vietnamese event organizer), and the 99 Mountains company (the investor of Sunset Sanato Resort on Phu Quoc).

The festival is under the Real Utility to Reality project, organized in countries such as Cambodia, Georgia, Ukraine and Russia. In Vietnam will be a wide range of activities, including music and sports events that can attract hundreds of thousands of people.

It will take place in Vietnam twice, for about 15 days each time. Dong Do Show has not yet disclosed the exact dates as it is in the process of completing the necessary procedures for holding the festival.

Events will be held on Phu Quoc Beach and use environmentally-friendly materials. The organizers anticipate creating a space with modern lighting and sound but also elements of traditional Vietnamese culture.  

There are many factors behind the Real Utility to Reality project coming to Vietnam. Firstly, it has the necessary conditions to attract tourists and has a stable political situation, making tourists feel safe to explore the natural beauty in the country. Moreover, investors are welcome to invest in tourism development opportunities.

Phu Quoc Island also has a great climate, with average temperatures from 24 to 27C with dry and wet seasons. 

The dry season is from December to May, which in many Western countries is winter and a time of public holidays. If the project is organized at this time it can attract huge numbers of Western tourists.

As at the end of May, tourists to Phu Quoc this year totaled almost 534,000, a 51.83 per cent increase year-on-year and 43.66 per cent of the target. International tourist arrivals were over 108,000, about 36 per cent of the target and up 2.1 per cent year-on-year. 

Revenue from tourism in the first five months was almost VND6 trillion ($269 million).

By 2020 Phu Quoc Island is targeted to welcome from 2 to 3 million tourists a year, with some 40 per cent being international tourists. 

Total tourism revenue is to be about $771 million. By 2030 the island will welcome from 5 to 7 million tourists, with international tourists accounting for 45 to 50 per cent.

VN Economic Times