For the third quarter, Vietnam's largest island off the southern province of An Giang recorded 597,000 international tourists, up 87% year-on-year, according to a report from the provincial Department of Tourism.

Phu Quoc aims to expand its international tourism markets by promoting direct and charter flights, including connections with Japan, according to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's portal.

Foreign tourists sunbathe on a beach in Phu Quoc Island. Photo by SG

The island has already expanded direct air connections with destinations across Asia, most recently launching a direct route to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Sept. 1.

Alongside aviation promotion, the tourism industry is stepping up the use of technology in advertising, digitizing tourism data and developing communication products such as e-books and videos featuring AI-generated voiceovers.

The island aims to welcome 8.5 million tourists this year, including 2 million international visitors.