Phuket and Bali are both popular places but each one has its flaws. Occasional overcrowding and well-known infrastructure challenges can be a holiday buzzkill. However, convenient air connections along with their long-standing popularity and a lack of alternatives means travelers still flock to these destinations.
There is no doubt that both are amazing even with their challenges. However, a Southeast Asian island is now looking to become the region’s leading luxury destination. Phu Quoc in Vietnam has rapidly transformed from being virtually untouched to a thriving vacation spot.
While it is not unusual for some to refer to Phu Quoc as a hidden gem or an up-and-coming destination, that is no longer the case. The island welcomed nearly five million visitors in 2022 and hotel occupancy rates continue to be high with guests visiting from across the world.
Additionally, Phu Quoc has been celebrated by TIME Magazine, which named it as one of the “Top 100 Greatest Places in the World,” and Condé Nast Traveler, which ranked Phu Quoc as one of the “World’s Top Islands” in 2023.
So, what’s next? For this Southeast Asian island, the goal is to become the region’s leading luxury destination.
Here’s how Phu Quoc will become a leading luxury destination
If Phu Quoc is to reach its lofty ambitions, it will need forward-thinking developers to build on the outstanding foundation that has been established. Sun Group appears most capable of assisting in these efforts and already has a notable presence on the island.
It elevated the island’s hospitality scene to new levels of excellence when opening the Bill Bensley-designed JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay Resort opened in 2016. Sun Group is also behind the Rosewood Hotel Group-operated New World Phu Quoc Resort and the soon-to-open La Festa Phu Quoc Curio Collection by Hilton.
And this is only a start. The tourism-focused developer recently signed an agreement with Marriott International that will see two more illustrious luxury hotel brands arrive in Phu Quoc. There is The Luxury Collection Resort, Hon Thom Island, a spectacular sail-shaped property with 305 rooms and suites and first-class facilities, including a Luxury Collection Spa and extensive event space.
The second is the Ritz-Carlton Reserve, Hon Thom Island. This will be a blissful beachfront boutique retreat designed by Bill Bensley and featuring just 40 pool villas and five-star facilities, including a beachfront wedding venue. Upon opening, it will join a highly exclusive collection of just six Ritz-Carlton Reserves worldwide.
Also Interesting: Capella furthers its reach in Southeast Asia with Capella Hanoi
Sun Group sees luxury as the future for Phu Quoc
As one of Vietnam’s leading integrated hospitality, entertainment, infrastructure and real estate companies, Phu Quoc is an important market for Sun Group. That future is one dependent upon expanding the luxury travel sector.
“Phu Quoc is no longer an emerging tourism destination – it has already arrived on the world stage. Now, we are entering a new phase, as the ‘Pearl Island’ becomes a dream destination for luxury seekers. We understand that today’s affluent travelers are demanding new experiences they can’t find anywhere else,” Dang Minh Truong, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Sun Group, states. “By working with the industry’s top hotel brands, designers and architects, Sun Group is successfully elevating the island’s tourism industry to new levels of refinement and elegance, all amid the stunning backdrop of Phu Quoc’s beautiful beaches and spectacular scenery.”
Keep Reading: Prime Minister urges Vietnam to improve tourist visa processes
