(AG Provincial E-Portal) - On the afternoon of December 15th, at Phu Quoc International Airport, Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, in coordination with the People's Committee of An Giang province and with the support of Sun Group, solemnly welcomed the 20 millionth international tourist to Vietnam. This is a historic milestone, the first of its kind in the 65 years of development of Vietnam's tourism industry.
Accordingly, the 20,000,000th international tourist was Ms. Karolina Agnieszka, a Polish national.
Mr. Ho An Phong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, along with the Vietnam National Tourism Administration; Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Standing Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of An Giang province, along with the An Giang Department of Tourism, relevant units, Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone, and Sun Group, attended the welcoming ceremony.
The welcoming ceremony was held with solemn rituals at the foot of the airplane's gangway, including the presentation of flowers, traditional art performances, and the announcement and awarding of certificates and souvenirs to three special guests: the 19,999,999th, 20,000,000th, and 20,000,001st guests. The 20 millionth guest received gifts worth nearly 500 million VND, including a high-end pearl necklace, a round-trip business class flight package with Sun PhuQuoc Airways, a stay at a 5-star hotel, a Michelin culinary experience voucher, golf, a cruise exploring the southern part of Phu Quoc Island, and priority access to entertainment services within the Sun Group ecosystem.
In addition, the 19,999,999th and 20,000,001st passengers received gifts worth over 200 million VND each, including high-quality pearls and vouchers for products and services within the Sun Group system.
Furthermore, all passengers on this "special" flight were presented with welcome flowers and tickets to the "Kiss of the Sea" show in Sunset Town, Phu Quoc Special Economic Zone.
The 20,000,000th international tourist, Ms. Karolina Agnieszka from Poland, expressed: “Right now, I am truly moved to tears. I feel so lucky to be here and have the opportunity to visit Vietnam. Your country is so beautiful. The people are friendly, warm, and open. I want to say, I love Vietnam and hello Vietnam! This is a moment I will cherish for the rest of my life. This is my first time in Vietnam, but it certainly won't be my last. I will recommend all my friends and family in Poland to visit this wonderful country.”
Mr. Ho An Phong, Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, emphasized that after 65 years of formation and development, Vietnam's tourism industry has today marked a historical milestone, welcoming 20 million international tourists for the first time in a single year. This is vivid evidence of the persistent efforts, innovative spirit, and aspiration for growth of the entire Vietnamese tourism industry. This milestone is even more significant as it was achieved in the context of the global tourism industry having just gone through an unprecedented difficult period due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Vietnam fully reopened its tourism activities on March 15, 2022, the tourism industry has recovered and grown continuously. In 2023, it reached 12.6 million international tourists, in 2024 was 17.6 million; and in 2025 it is expected to welcome over 21 million, far exceeding the 18 million of 2019 - the period before the pandemic.
With a growth rate of approximately 21%, Vietnam's tourism sector is considered by the United Nations Tourism Organization (UN Tourism) to be among the fastest-growing in the world, in the context of an average global growth rate of only about 5% in 2025, 8% in the Asia-Pacific region, and the fact that global tourism has only recovered to about 90% of pre-pandemic levels.
2025 also marks significant international recognition as Vietnam is honored for the sixth time by the World Travel Awards as the “World’s Leading Heritage Destination” and for the seventh time as the “Leading Destination in Asia,” along with numerous prestigious awards for Vietnamese localities, destinations, and tourism businesses. These achievements further affirm the prestige, attractiveness, and increasingly prominent position of the Vietnamese tourism brand on the global tourism map, shared Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Ho An Phong.
For nearly a decade, significant milestones in Vietnam's tourism development have been marked in Phu Quoc, highlighting the island's special role in the country's tourism growth. Phu Quoc has emerged as one of the fastest-growing tourism destinations in the country, playing a pioneering role and acting as a crucial driver for the international tourist market. The pilot program of visa exemption for all international tourists, allowing stays of up to 30 days, has given the island a clear competitive advantage over many other destinations in the region, while also attracting longer-staying, high-spending international visitors.
The milestone of 20 million international tourists visiting Phu Quoc therefore carries profound symbolic significance. This is not only a source of pride for the Pearl Island but also represents a rapidly growing, innovative destination, reflecting a dynamic, open Vietnam ready for deep integration with the world, aiming to make tourism a truly leading economic sector in the new development phase.
The choice of Phu Quoc as the venue for welcoming the 20 millionth international tourist is highly significant. Phu Quoc is not only a leading island and beach tourism center in Vietnam, but also possesses abundant natural resources, modern infrastructure, and a comprehensive tourism ecosystem. It is progressively demonstrating its capacity to host national and international events, leading up to APEC 2027, and serves as a vibrant representation of a new phase of Vietnamese tourism development – greener, more sustainable, and of higher quality.
News by Le Huy Hai
Translator: Thi Huynh
