Demand outpaces capacity growth
According to Travel Times, the average load factor on the Incheon–Phu Quoc route reached 85.5% in July 2026, up sharply from 71.6% a month earlier.
Although the number of flights rose 31.6%, from 285 to 375, passenger traffic grew at an even faster pace, climbing 45.1% from 43,601 to 63,279 travelers. The figures point to sustained and robust growth in South Korean demand for holidays in Phu Quoc.
Sun PhuQuoc Airways is helping expand direct air connectivity between South Korea and Phu Quoc.
Among South Korean carriers, the average load factor stood at 89.6%. Eastar Jet led the market at 93.9%, followed closely by Jeju Air at 93.6%. T’way Air, despite only launching services on the route in July, also recorded a strong 92.8%.
Notably, Sun PhuQuoc Airways — the Vietnamese carrier named after the island — posted a load factor of 75.9% during the initial phase of its operations. Its entry not only adds direct air capacity between South Korea and Phu Quoc, but also creates a more seamless connection between air travel and the island’s broader ecosystem of resorts, attractions and entertainment.
The participation of a Vietnamese airline in the market also gives South Korean travelers more choice while strengthening Phu Quoc’s capacity to welcome international visitors as the destination enters a new phase of growth.
Why is Phu Quoc becoming increasingly popular with South Korean travelers?
Phu Quoc’s appeal to South Korean visitors goes beyond its turquoise waters, warm climate and visa-free entry. The island is also well positioned to cater to a style of travel that has become increasingly popular in South Korea: relatively short travel times combined with a convenient, experience-rich holiday.
After a direct flight of just over five hours from Incheon, travelers can quickly settle into a vacation that combines resort stays, dining, shopping, recreation and nightlife — all within a single destination.
This is also one of the advantages offered by Sun PhuQuoc Airways. Rather than simply flying visitors to the island, the airline provides a direct gateway to Phu Quoc’s wider tourism and leisure ecosystem. For travelers on shorter breaks, a seamless journey from flight to accommodation and entertainment helps save valuable time and allows them to start enjoying the destination almost immediately after landing.
Phu Quoc stays wide awake after sunset, illuminated by two spectacular fireworks displays every night.
One particularly popular trend among South Korean travelers is the “hocance” — a portmanteau of “hotel” and “vacance” — in which guests spend much of their holiday enjoying the facilities and services of their hotel or resort.
Southern Phu Quoc is especially well suited to this style of travel, with a collection of internationally branded resorts including JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay, New World Phu Quoc, Premier Village Phu Quoc Resort and La Festa Phu Quoc – Curio Collection by Hilton.
Each offers a distinctive experience, ranging from architect Bill Bensley’s whimsical vision of a fictional university campus and secluded villas surrounded by nature to Mediterranean-inspired beachfront settings.
Yet Phu Quoc is not only for travelers looking to spend their entire holiday inside a resort.
For younger visitors who enjoy photographing and sharing their journeys on platforms such as Naver and Instagram, southern Phu Quoc offers a wealth of highly photogenic landmarks and experiences. Travelers can stroll along the seaside streets of Sunset Town, enjoy French pastries at Maison Kayser, and then watch the sun descend between the two spans of Kiss Bridge — a landmark that has become one of Phu Quoc’s most popular check-in spots.
The journey can continue aboard the world’s longest three-rope cable car, carrying passengers above the sea and across the An Thoi archipelago to Hon Thom Island.
There, families and groups of friends can spend the day at Aquatopia Water Park, seek out more adventurous experiences at Exotica Village, or unwind for an afternoon at Bai Bo Tay and Santo Beach Club.
South Korean visitors “check-in” at Kiss Bridge. (Source: Peaktime)
As night falls, southern Phu Quoc reveals another of its defining advantages.
Instead of ending the day after dinner, visitors can continue shopping at the beachfront VUI-Fest Bazaar, dine at Sun Bavaria GastroPub and take in performances such as “Kiss of the Sea” and “Symphony of the Sea.”
Combining water, fire, light, extreme sports and, most notably, fireworks, these large-scale shows deliver highly immersive and memorable experiences — well aligned with South Korean travelers’ appetite for entertainment and their enthusiasm for capturing and sharing standout moments from their trips.
Guests can watch spectacular fireworks illuminate the coastline from Sun Bavaria GastroPub - the world’s largest beachfront beer restaurant.
It is Phu Quoc’s ability to satisfy multiple travel needs within a single itinerary — from “hocance” stays and photogenic check-in spots to dining and nighttime entertainment — that is helping the island build lasting appeal in the South Korean market.
Together with an expanding network of direct flights and the arrival of Sun PhuQuoc Airways, Phu Quoc is becoming an increasingly convenient choice for both short getaways and longer resort holidays.
