Today’s guest is Stuart McDonald, co-founder of Travelfish and author of the excellent Couchfish newsletter. Stuart has been traveling around and writing about Southeast Asia for about three decades and is also working on a Master’s in Responsible Tourism Management. He’s written previously about sustainable tourism in Vietnam as well.
Stuart recently visited Phú Quốc for the first time in a while and I wanted to get his thoughts on the place through a sustainable lens. If you’re expecting a rose-tinted view of the island, this episode is not for you. We cover some positives of Phu Quoc before getting into its severe problems, what could be done to begin addressing them, and whether you should visit.
Related Links:
Vietnam's Sustainable Tourism Challenge
Couchfish: A Journey Along The Camel’s Back. Part 1
Couchfish: A Journey Along The Camel’s Back. Part 2
Couchfish: Sustainable Vietnam Part 1—Plastic, People, Power
Couchfish: Sustainable Vietnam Part 2—Three Kinds Of Gold
Vietnam's biggest island long held onto a seductive image as the country's 'last paradise.' Then came the clubs, a casino, and a safari. (Business Insider)
Phu Quoc stops officials from going abroad (VnExpress International)
The Sad State of Phú Quốc