Phu Yen’s goal for 2030 is to welcome at least six million visitors annually, with tourism revenue reaching around 12.6 trillion VND (496.2 million USD) and tourism contributing more than 10% to the province’s GRDP.
Tourism in Phu Yen has shown notable development recently, with impressive figures. In 2022, the province welcomed 2.2 million tourists, and this year, the number is expected to reach 4 million, achieving 117.6% of the annual target, a 25% increase compared to 2023. International visitors are expected to reach 30,000, 150% of the yearly target, a 51.9% increase compared to 2023. The total revenue from tourism is estimated at 8 trillion VND, up 62.7% compared to 2023 and 4.1 times higher than in 2019.
Vice Chairman of the Phu Yen Provincial People’s Committee, Le Tan Ho, shared that these numbers are the result of over three years of implementing the Action Programme No. 09-CTr/TU dated August 18, 2021, by the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee, aimed at developing tourism in the 2021-2025 period, to make tourism the province’s key economic sector by 2030.
According to Le Tan Ho, to exploit the province’s potential and advantages for fast and sustainable development, Phu Yen has always prioritised attracting investment, including in tourism, as a political task to provide resources for socio-economic development, improve quality, and accelerate economic growth.
To that end, the entire political system has focused on deploying solutions to improve the investment and business environment, making it easier for investors, such as integrating Phu Yen’s tourism planning into the provincial master plan for the 2021-2030 period, with a vision for 2050. In addition, they will issue a plan for the Phu Yen Geopark aiming for UNESCO Global Geopark recognition, adjusting the Tuy Hoa Airport master plan, developing inland waterway infrastructure, implementing coastal road projects, investing in tourism infrastructure, and promoting international cooperation.
Phu Yen has 52 tourism and service projects, 6,780 workers in the tourism sector, and an estimated tourism revenue of 8 trillion VND in 2024. Tourism activities continue to make a significant contribution to the province’s economic growth.
Phu Yen has a coastline of 189 kilometres, with many bays, beaches, lagoons, and rocky outcrops that offer pristine natural beauty, creating diverse ecological landscapes, such as Long Thuy Beach, O Loan Lagoon, Hon Chua, Cu Lao Mai Nha, Hon Yen, Xep Beach, the Cliff of Stone Plates, and Xuan Dai Bay. These are advantages for developing various tourism services.
In Phu Yen, Song Cau Town has great potential for developing tourism and coastal services. Recently, the town has made many efforts to attract investment and develop the economy, including attracting investment for coastal tourism and service projects.
According to Phan Tran Van Huy, Deputy Secretary of the Town Party Committee and Chairman of the People’s Committee of Song Cau Town, the town has established many mechanisms and policies to attract large domestic and foreign investors to develop tourism projects along Cu Mong Lagoon and Xuan Dai Bay National Tourism Area, aiming to create linkages and diversify tourism offerings.
In particular, Song Cau Town successfully organised the first Lobster Festival to promote the national tourism site of Xuan Dai Bay, introduce the lobster farming and processing industry, and build a sustainable “lobster hub.” The festival made a significant impression, showcasing Song Cau as a dynamic and developing town.
The tourism industry in Phu Yen has also made significant efforts to boost promotion, organise and participate in large tourism events both within and outside the province, and collaborate with other regions to develop tourism products.
For example, the province signed a cooperation programme to develop tourism with six provinces: Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, Gia Lai, Kon Tum, Quang Ngai, and Phu Yen for the 2022-2027 period. They coordinated with localities to implement the “One Journey, Three Destinations” tourism programme between Binh Dinh, Phu Yen, and Khanh Hoa, serving Northeast Asian tourists. In addition, tourism information on the Phu Yen tourism website has been regularly updated, developing a regional tourism alliance website for Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, and Gia Lai to support businesses to promote tourism.
Pham Dai Duong, Secretary of the Phu Yen Provincial Party Committee, recognised that Phu Yen’s tourism development has achieved certain successes, but challenges and limitations remain that need attention.
The Phu Yen Party Committee recently held a conference on tourism development and set future directions. They discussed and approved a plan for developing Phu Yen’s tourism for the 2024-2030 period, with a vision for 2050.
In the future, the Phu Yen Party Committee will focus on specific tasks, such as strengthening leadership at all levels for tourism development, raising awareness and changing perspectives on tourism development, focusing on managing and implementing the tourism plan and mobilising resources for tourism infrastructure development. This includes implementing policies for tourism growth, diversifying and enhancing the quality of tourism products, developing distinctive tourism products to create a competitive edge, accelerating digital transformation, enhancing tourism promotion and expanding international cooperation, training and developing tourism human resources, and improving the effectiveness of state management of tourism.
According to Pham Dai Duong, to achieve the goals of promoting tourism development in the province, departments, sectors, and localities need to continue raising awareness and responsibilities in managing and developing tourism, particularly the responsibility of leaders in effectively organising and implementing the Action Programme No. 09-CTr/TU. They must also efficiently carry out tourism development tasks and solutions to meet the goals outlined in the provincial master plan and approved by the Prime Minister, building the tourism brand “Phu Yen - A Green, Clean, Safe, Attractive, and Friendly Destination,” and striving to make tourism the province’s key economic sector by 2030.
