Vietnam to build int'l airport to foster S. island
HANOI - Vietnam will start construction of an international airport in an island of southern Kien Giang province this year, in a move to make the island a regional tourism and trade center, a local official told Xinhua Thursday.
"Under a regulation on organization and operation of the Phu Quoc Island issued by the government in mid-February, it is allowed to open international border gates by sea and air so that sea and air routes linking Phu Quoc with some regional countries can be established soon," the official from the People's Committeeof Kien Giang said on condition of anonymity.
Construction of an international airport with annual capacity of 2.5 million passengers with an estimated investment of 2.5 trillion Vietnamese dong (157.2 million U.S. dollars) from centralstate budget will kick off in the Duong to commune some time this year. The airport, capable of receiving large planes as Boeing 767and Airbus A321, is expected to become operational after 2010, theofficial said.
According to the government's regulation, both foreign and local investors in Phu Quoc are to enjoy many incentives, such as lower tax and land rental, soft loan, and convenient accommodationand travel. Besides the future international airport, a sea international border gate, a non-tariff zone, four golf courses, and many trade and entertainment facilities will be built in the island in the coming years.
"Phu Quoc is estimated to have a population of 110,000-120,000 in 2010. At that time, it can annually receive 0.5-0.6 million domestic and foreign tourists," the official said, noting that an existing domestic airport in Phu Quoc is capable of serving 300,000 passengers a year.
Xinhuanet - March 16, 2006.
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