According to data from Phu Quoc International Airport, flight and passenger traffic continues to remain at a high level and has reached unprecedented milestones in its operational history. According to the detailed production report on February 18, 2026 (the second day of Tet), the airport recorded a new record with a total of 93 incoming flights, including 47 domestic and 46 international flights. This is one of the days with the highest passenger traffic ever, clearly demonstrating the strong acceleration of tourism in Ngoc Island.
Even more noteworthy is the passenger volume reaching 16,642 arrivals on the second day of Tet alone. The growth is occurring evenly and strongly in both key markets. Specifically, the number of domestic tourists reached 8,899 arrivals. Notably, international arrivals set an impressive milestone, reaching 7,743 visitors to Ngoc Island during the holiday. This is the clearest evidence that Phu Quoc is becoming a priority destination for the international market, trusted for leisure, relaxation, and welcoming the new year.
International Phu Quoc Airport cheerfully welcomes tourists during the Lunar New Year
According to Mr. Bui Quoc Thai, Director of An Giang Department of Tourism, the tourist service work during the Lunar New Year of the Year of the Horse 2026 has been carefully implemented by localities and tourism service businesses, ready to meet the needs of tourists.
The resort and entertainment complex in Nam Dao proves its attraction as a top destination. The synchronized tourism ecosystem, from Hon Thom Cable Car to top-notch art shows like "Kiss of the Sea" or "Ocean Symphony", has contributed to extending the tourist journey, with a strong increase in visitors compared to the previous Tet. Especially, Hon Thom Cable Car recorded visitor numbers at about 106% compared to the same period in Tet 2025, while "Ocean Symphony" exploded by up to 243%, and "Kiss of the Sea" reached nearly 129% compared to the same period, showing the increasing attraction of large-scale entertainment experiences in Nam Dao.
Sun Bavaria GastroPub Restaurant bustling with visitors admiring the dazzling fireworks display lighting up the sky every night
Fireworks light up the sky twice every night, making tourists feel like every day is New Year's Eve. Many international visitors were surprised and praised the synchronized tourism ecosystem, from resort infrastructure to diverse cuisine at the bustling seaside restaurants, cafes, and shopping areas, creating a characteristic nightlife that many tourists consider an unmissable experience when visiting Phu Quoc.
Ms. Annati Malik - an Indian tourist, said: “I find Phu Quoc very impressive, like walking on the streets of Europe. The Tet atmosphere here is truly vibrant, the streets are dyed red, people are bustling in beautiful clothes, and two brilliant fireworks displays, like every night is welcoming the New Year's Eve”.
The vibrancy in the South of the island reflects Phu Quoc's new tourism trend – where tourists not only seek a simple beach vacation but also want to experience fully from nature, architecture, entertainment to nightlife. The integrated tourism ecosystem helps extend the exploration journey from mornings by the beach to festival nights by the bay.
The vibrant Tet atmosphere on all routes at Sun World Hon Thom
Accompanying the growth in visitor numbers and the vibrancy of the experience ecosystem in the South of the island, Phu Quoc's international connectivity infrastructure is also expanding with long-term strategic steps. In the early morning of February 19 (the 3rd day of Tet), Sun PhuQuoc Airways – the airline named after the Pearl Island – signed an agreement with Boeing to purchase 40 Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner wide-body aircraft, with a total contract value of up to 22.5 billion USD. This is considered a strategic move to form an 'air bridge' connecting the Pearl Island with the world, increasing international transport capacity, and directly bringing tourists from key global markets to Phu Quoc. As the modern fleet gradually takes shape, the capacity to welcome large-scale international tourist flows will be significantly enhanced, creating an important foundation for a new growth phase for Phu Quoc tourism, as a new aviation tourism hub for the region, contributing to opening up a future of booming international tourism for the Pearl Island in the coming decade.
Tourism experts assess that Phu Quoc's maintenance of a synchronized tourism ecosystem, from convenient aviation infrastructure, diverse accommodation systems to large-scale experience chains, has contributed to shaping the Pearl Island as a comprehensive resort-entertainment destination in the region. The record growth momentum right in the early days of the Year of the Horse not only reflects immediate appeal but also serves as a practical test of the operational capability and service for large-scale tourist flows, creating an important premise to help Phu Quoc become not just a simple beach resort but also a comprehensive entertainment center, ready to enter the peak preparation phase for major international diplomatic events like APEC 2027.
