The number of international tourist arrivals on Phu Quoc Island off Vietnam’s Mekong Delta province of Kien Giang is decreasing, leading to a suspension of air services with India and Taiwan.

Air service between Phu Quoc Island and Hong Kong was not launched as scheduled on April 27.

Currently, Phu Quoc Island only has air connectivity with South Korea, Malaysia, and Thailand, according to the Kien Giang Department of Tourism.

To lure more international visitors to Vietnam in general and Phu Quoc Island in particular, the Kien Giang People’s Committee has proposed that the Vietnamese government and relevant ministries and departments expand the visa waiver program.

Popularizing Vietnam’s tourism among global travelers is needed to beef up the number of international tourist arrivals.

The provincial Department of Tourism also proposed adding domestic and international air routes to diversify the tourism source markets and launching more tours for fam trip and press trip groups to Phu Quoc.

Data released by the department on Monday indicated that the Mekong Delta province welcomed over 815,230 tourists in April, with 48,190 international holidaymakers, down 28.3 percent month on month.

During the five-day holiday lasting from April 29 to May 3, some 265,000 tourists traveled to Kien Giang Province, down 9.4 percent year on year.

Phu Quoc Island alone received over 112,000 travelers, falling 11.5 percent against the year-ago period.

The provincial department attributed the drop to the off-peak travel season for foreign travelers.

In addition, ongoing global economic uncertainties, military conflicts, and the COVID-19 pandemic discouraged international tourists from touring overseas.

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