With that, it is expected to accommodate five million visitors annually.

“At this point, Phu Quoc International Airport is in need of development. The forecast of 2020 shows that the number of visitors to the airport could be some 2.5-3 million, so a comprehensive extension is necessary,” said Huynh Quang Hung, Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Phu Quoc district, in southern Kien Giang province.

The airport initiated its second phase in April 2015, with a total investment of more than VND2 trillion (US$89.4 million), for all categories, including runway, hangar, passenger terminal and outdoor parking.

On average, the airport daily serves 42 flights both arrivals and departures.

In the past nine months of this year, it served 1.6 million visitors to Phu Quoc, a surge of 47.18% compared with the same period last year.

Hung also noted that the total land area provided to the airport to date and in use since 2002 was 905 ha, helping the airport to serve the increasing number of visitors.

Phu Quoc is Vietnam’s largest island and is a district of Kien Giang. It has an area of nearly 600 sq. km and a population of over 100,000.

Known as the “pearl island”, Phu Quoc has received investment to become a high-end tourist destination as it houses lush mountains, pristine beaches as well as a diversity of fauna and flora species.

Kien Giang expects to welcome 6.8 million tourists in 2020, or an increase of 9.5% annually in the number of visitors, including 450,000 foreigners.