Sun Group’s projects breathe new life to south Phu Quoc

Rapid transformation

The streets of the south of Phu Quoc Island have changed a lot over the past few years. There are new wide roads and the beach is no longer peppered with dilapidated shops and eateries. The scenery is clean and fresh. The resorts built recently have brought to the place a new feel.

Sun Group has invested millions of dollars into its project complex, pulling up a tourism centre with resorts and entertainment facilities in the area. According to Sun Group, two months after the construction started, JW Marriott Emerald Bay Resort & Spa in Bai Khem is going to start operation in September.

Designed by world-renowned architect Bill Bensley, who is often called ‘the wizard of resorts’ and has cooperated with Sun Group in the award winning InterContinental Danang Sun Penninsula Resort in Danang, JW Marriott Emerald Bay Resort & Spa is going to carve out a firm foundation for tourism on the island in the near future.

Sun Group is also pushing the development of other projects in Phu Quoc, including Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort in Mui Ong Doi. The project has two beach-fronts, a rarity in the resort world. The first villas are going to be completed in July. Coincidentally, the first apartments in Premier Residences Phu Quoc Emerald Bay will also be completed at the same time. These projects are going to supply to thousands of international-standard rooms that will contribute to attracting tourists to the island.

With its experience developing entertainment facilities in many localities, Sun Group has invested in Hon Thom cable and entertainment zone, with the first phase investment of VND4.9 trillion ($220 million). Construction started in September 2015 and the cable car system is going to start operation at the end of April next year.

As the company has invested in transport infrastructure, resorts and hotels as well as entertainment facilities, Sun Group’s coming projects are going to be an important boost to tourism in the island.

Piqued holiday-goers and investors

Meanwhile, the number of tourists coming to Phu Quoc continues to rise. Huynh Quang Hung, Deputy Chairman of the Phu Quoc People’s Committee, said that in the first five months of this year 524,000 tourists visited the island, marking a 52 per cent increase on-year and fetching a revenue of VND5.8 trillion ($260 million). According to Hung, this number is going to continue increasing as all the developing projects are going to increase the island’s ability to host tourists. “The resorts and entertainment facilities are going to be the highlight of Phu Quoc,” Hung said.

According to a report by Airport Corporation of Vietnam (ACV), Vietnam Airlines, VietJetAir, and Jetstar flights to Phu Quoc are almost always full. ACV is planning to invest VND1 trillion ($47 million) into expanding Phu Quoc airport soon.

Thanks to the rapidly improving infrastructure and the growing number of tourists, Phu Quoc has become a favoured destination for developers. According to Savills’ data, only in the first quarter of this year, developers launched 1,700 new apartments and villas in the island for sale, coming away with success from 65 per cent of the villas and 35 per cent of the apartments.

Phu Quoc is known around the world as a dynamically rising tourism destination. The natural beauty of the island and the investment from big developers are going to combine to transform the island into a favourite among international tourists.