Phu Quoc (Kien Giang province) is the first city piloted by the Politburo to attract tourists who get vaccinated. This is an opportunity to revive Phu Quoc tourism, contributing to the economic development of the province.

Phu Quoc is a safe destination, but tourism has been seriously affected for the nearly two years of the pandemic. The number of visitors to Phu Quoc has decreased by over 95%, greatly affecting the economic development of the province. According to statistics of Kien Giang Department of Tourism, in 2020, Kien Giang welcomed 5.2 million visitors, down 40.7% compared to 2019. In which, international customers were nearly 185,000, down 74.1 % from the same period. Total tourism revenue was estimated at VND7,867 billion, down 57.7% from the same period. Attracting vaccinated tourists is an opportunity to revive Phu Quoc tourism.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has proposed the Government to allow the pilot to welcome vaccinated Russian tourists to Phu Quoc. Therefore, Phu Quoc residents, including foreigners and migrant workers, must be vaccinated to reach herd immunity. Tourists must be vaccinated and have a negative RT-PCR test result for COVID-19 virus. 

Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, Director of Kien Giang Tourism Department, said, "Opening the door to international visitors is an important issue, in which the highest priority is to ensure everyone is protected. Therefore, it is necessary to step-by-step pilot the guest market, flight formats, selection points, and qualified services that meet the requirements of pandemic prevention and control.”

Phu Quoc city is currently preparing many synchronous solutions to be eligible to open to international vaccinated tourists.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Kien Giang province Lam Minh Thanh said that Kien Giang province is planning to inject all Phu Quoc citizens to achieve herd immunity against COVID-19. The plan of welcoming international guests, domestic guests, organizing isolation, reception, logistics are prepared thoughtfully and specifically.

Appreciating the vaccination policy of the Politburo for selecting Phu Quoc to open its doors to international vaccine tourists, economic expert Do Thanh Nam said that a vaccine passport is a key for not only Phu Quoc, but also Vietnam to welcome international visitors.

As an experienced tour operator of sea and island tours in Phu Quoc, Mr. Luong Duy Ngan, Chairman of the Board of Directors and General Director of Newstar Group, said this is a very timely policy. Phu Quoc is the number 1 choice that has all the necessary conditions to implement vaccine tourism. However, once the policy has been approved, it is also necessary to ensure tourists are protected, especially ensuring visitors’ confidence. Surveys on tourist safety issues are needed to convince vaccinated foreign tourists that Phu Quoc is a really safe destination.

 “The pilot of the Vaccine passport in Phu Quoc - a relatively isolated island of sufficient infrastructure for meeting the needs of international tourists - is the key to opening the way for the Kien Giang tourism industry, and also contribute to the state budget,” Mr. Ngan emphasized.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in collaboration with the People's Committee of Kien Giang province and related units, are developing plans and procedures to welcome vaccine tourists.

Phu Quoc is an island located in the south of Vietnam, with an area of 570 square kilometers. Phu Quoc has invested billions of dollars in tourism infrastructure, building resorts, entertainment, ports and airports. This island has been voted as the most beautiful place on the planet by many prestigious travel magazines. 

The vaccination policy of the Politburo to pilot Phu Quoc as a vaccine tourism is an opportunity for Phu Quoc to revive tourism in the near future. The successful vaccine passport pilot will promote Vietnam as a safe destination to international friends and tourists, and also a premise for other provinces and localities to be eligible to receive the international vaccinated tourists.