Decoding the Take-Off Momentum of the Phu Quoc Special Zone: The Appeal of a Billion-Dollar Ecosystem and the APEC 2027 Launchpad

The Traveloka SEA Index Q3/2026 report ranked Phu Quoc first among destinations newly appearing in the regional rankings. (Source: Traveloka website)

Phu Quoc Records Broad-Based Growth Across Five Markets

The most notable point in the report lies not only in the ranking, but also in the breadth of the trend. Phu Quoc exceeded the benchmark growth threshold across Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam; ranked first among the fastest-growing international destinations for Indonesian travellers; appeared among the standout destinations for Malaysian travellers; and placed in the top five fastest-growing domestic destinations for Vietnamese travellers.

When a destination records simultaneous growth across multiple markets with different travel behaviours, the key signal is that its appeal is no longer dependent on a single source market. Traveloka even raised the question of whether Koh Chang could become the “next Phu Quoc” in search trends among Thai travellers — a comparison that suggests the Pearl Island has become a notable regional reference point.

Traveloka asked whether Koh Chang could become the “next Phu Quoc”. (Source: Traveloka website)

According to a report by the An Giang Department of Tourism, in the first nine months of 2026, the Phu Quoc special zone was estimated to have welcomed 8.57 million visitors, up 30.5% year on year; international arrivals reached 1.92 million, an increase of 60.2%. By comparison, in the whole of 2025, the island received 8.14 million visitors, including 1.86 million international arrivals. This means that even before the end of the fourth quarter of 2026, Phu Quoc had already surpassed both of the previous year’s figures.

Two details in this dataset are particularly noteworthy. First, international arrivals increased by 60.2% — nearly twice the overall growth rate — indicating that international markets are playing an increasingly important role in Phu Quoc’s growth structure. Second, tourism revenue rose by 47.7%, significantly higher than the 30.5% increase in visitor numbers. This suggests that the economic value generated by tourism is growing faster than visitor volume itself. For a destination aspiring to become a regional hub for resorts, events and conferences, this is a more meaningful dimension of growth than simply looking at visitor numbers alone.

Phu Quoc’s coastline, with its powdery white sand, crystal-clear waters and highly attractive beaches.

The Aviation Gateway: Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ “Wings” for Accelerating International Growth

For an island destination, accessibility is always a fundamental condition for sustainable growth. From January 1, 2026, Sun Group officially took over the management and operation of Phu Quoc International Airport, while also implementing an expansion project covering 1,050 hectares, designed to meet Code 4E standards, with total investment of nearly VND 22 trillion.

Phase 1 is designed to reach a capacity of 20–24 million passengers per year by 2030, supported by two runways up to 3,500 metres long and more than 120 aircraft parking positions. By mid-October 2026, the concrete structure of Terminal T2 had reached around 95% completion, the main steel roof structure had been completed, and the construction site had mobilised more than 7,600 engineers and workers at peak periods.

In the skies, less than a year after commencing operations, Sun PhuQuoc Airways was named “Asia’s Best Leisure Airline 2026” by Skytrax. The airline also entered the World’s Top 100 Airlines at No. 99 and ranked fifth among the world’s most improved airlines.

Skytrax named Sun PhuQuoc Airways “Asia’s Best Leisure Airline 2026”. (Source: skytraxratings.com)

By September 22, 2026, Sun PhuQuoc Airways’ fleet had reached 21 aircraft, including its first wide-body Airbus A330 — a notable addition supporting plans to expand long-haul routes. The airline aims to grow its fleet to 33 aircraft by the end of 2026.

The airline’s international network is expanding rapidly to major hubs across Northeast Asia, Southeast Asia and South Asia. On October 15, 2026, Sun PhuQuoc Airways continued its network expansion with the Shanghai – Ho Chi Minh City route, while direct flights between Phu Quoc and Ahmedabad, India, have already gone on sale and are scheduled to launch on December 2, 2026.

Looking further ahead, an agreement to purchase up to 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners, with an estimated value of approximately USD 22.5 billion, provides a foundation for the airline’s long-haul fleet development strategy and expansion into intercontinental markets. When airport infrastructure and air transport capacity are developed within the same ecosystem, connectivity can evolve from a basic requirement into a proactive competitive advantage for the destination.

Sun World Hon Thom and Southern Phu Quoc: Addressing the Challenge of Encouraging International Visitors to Stay Longer

A destination needs at least one powerful icon capable of becoming a reason to make the journey. In southern Phu Quoc, that icon is the 7,899.9-metre three-rope sea-crossing cable car connecting An Thoi with Hon Thom, recognised by Guinness World Records as the world’s longest of its kind from the day it opened.

The value of the structure lies not only in the record itself. It transforms the journey out to the island — often one of the least memorable parts of many trips — into the very first experience visitors remember.

Travelling to the island by the Hon Thom Cable Car is often the first experience many visitors remember.

On the island, Sun World Hon Thom offers multiple layers of experiences within a single day: Aquatopia Water Park and Exotica Village provide high-energy entertainment, while Bai Trao and Santo Beach Club add a more relaxing seaside dimension with an infinity pool, dining and leisure spaces. The launch of Wavy Whirl – Lốc Xoáy Nhiệt Đới and Santo Beach Club in 2026 reflects a strategy of continuous product renewal: even a well-established destination needs fresh reasons to inspire visitors to return.

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Artistic fireworks displays are a distinctive highlight of evenings in Phu Quoc.

As evening falls, the journey continues at Sunset Town: watching the sun set beside Kiss Bridge, enjoying dinner at Sun Bavaria GastroPub, and stepping into a vibrant night-time entertainment world with Kiss of the Sea, Symphony of the Sea and dazzling fireworks over the water. This is the layer of experience that extends the energy of southern Phu Quoc from day into night, while giving visitors more reasons to stay longer and spend more within the same journey.

Together with accommodation from leading brands such as Marriott, Hilton and New World, this all-in-one experience ecosystem extends the journey from daytime entertainment to dining, art and night-time resort experiences, while also creating a stronger foundation for attracting MICE groups and high-spending international travellers.

APEC 2027 Infrastructure: A Leap in Connectivity and Event-Hosting Capacity

The APEC 2027 Economic Leaders’ Week is expected to take place in Phu Quoc in the fourth quarter of 2027, welcoming around 10,000–12,000 delegates, business leaders and senior representatives from 21 economies. This will provide a major opportunity for the Pearl Island to showcase its event-hosting capabilities, new infrastructure and increasingly integrated tourism and resort ecosystem.

Across the major APEC construction programme, multiple projects are being accelerated in parallel. One of the key highlights is Terminal T2 at Phu Quoc International Airport, featuring a “Fire Phoenix” design. By mid-October 2026, the terminal’s concrete structure had reached around 95% completion, the main steel roof had been completed, and the construction site had mobilised more than 7,600 engineers and workers at peak periods.

The APEC Convention and Exhibition Centre complex and the multi-purpose performance venue are taking shape along Phu Quoc’s coastline, alongside a series of key projects targeting completion milestones in 2027.

This is being accompanied by the simultaneous development of a range of strategic infrastructure projects. The large-scale APEC Convention and Exhibition Centre is complemented by a multi-purpose performance venue with more than 4,000 seats. The nearly 20-km DT.975 road, designed with 10 lanes, will create a major connection between the airport and the APEC event area; running in parallel is a modern LRT line with total investment of nearly VND 9 trillion, expected to reduce travel time from the airport to southern Phu Quoc to around 20 minutes. Sun Group is currently responsible for delivering many of the key components within the infrastructure programme serving APEC 2027.

The long-term value of these developments lies in their ability to continue serving Phu Quoc well beyond APEC. The integration of aviation, transport, a large-scale convention centre and the tourism–resort–entertainment ecosystem in southern Phu Quoc will help strengthen the destination’s capacity to host major international events and position it as a prominent MICE tourism destination in Asia.

 

The tourism–resort–entertainment ecosystem in southern Phu Quoc, developed by Sun Group, helps create a complete and seamless visitor journey.

With its role in developing Phu Quoc’s tourism, resort and entertainment ecosystem, along with many key infrastructure projects, Sun Group is helping connect the different elements — from aviation and transport to entertainment and accommodation — into a complete and seamless journey. If APEC 2027 serves as a catalyst for infrastructure development and greater international visibility, the long-term value lies in the destination’s operational capacity and increasingly comprehensive ecosystem of experiences, helping the “Phu Quoc special zone” truly take off and strengthen its position on the global tourism map.