Ha Long Bay by night (Photo: VNA)Quang Ninh (VNA) – Tourism in thenortheastern province of Quang Ninh has changed significantly and is entering aperiod of sustainable development thanks to the presence of strategicinvestors, according to Director of provincial Department of Tourism Pham NgocThuy.
Major investors such as Vingroup, Sun Group, BMIGroup, FLC, Tuan Chau Group and CEO have helped Quang Ninh improve infrastructure,including the building of five-star resorts like FLC Ha Long Bay Golf Club& Luxury Resort, Vinpearl Resport & Spa Ha Long, and Sun World HalongComplex.
In the first 10 months of 2019, Quang Ninhwelcomed more than 11.7 million tourists, a year-on-year rise of 10 percent, 84percent of the annual target.
The number of international holidaymakersreached 4.2 million in January-October, up 4 percent against the same periodlast year. The tourism sector grossed 23.8 trillion VND (1 billion USD) inrevenues, a yearly increase of 22 percent.
Thuy said being aware of the important role oftourism in socio-economic development, Quang Ninh has defined tourism as aspearhead sector and is devoting a great deal of resources to buildingstrategic plans.
The province has completed a general plan fortourism development through 2020, with a vision to 2030, with the consultancyof the US Consulting Group from 2014, he said.
Quang Ninh has attracted a series of newinvestment projects, including transport infrastructure ones such as the HaiPhong-Ha Long highway, the expansion of the Uong Bi-Bac Ninh and Ha Long-MongDuong sections on Highway 18, and Van Don Airport and Van Don economic zone.
Besides investment in key projects like the HaLong-Cam Pha coastal road, the province is studying the construction of a roadtunnel through Cua Luc Bay to connect urban areas between Ha Long city andHoanh Bo district.
Local authorities have also paid great attentionto diversifying resources to build key tourism development regions such as HaLong city, Van Don and Mong Cai economic zones.
Quang Ninh is endowed with natural advantagesfor sea and island tourism. It has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres andmore than 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds of the totalnumber in Vietnam.
It is home to popular destinations such as HaLong Bay, Bai Tu Long, Ha Long Bay National Park and some islands.
In particular, Ha Long Bay was twice recognisedas a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO in 1994 and 2000. The bay spans1,553 square kilometres and includes 1,969 islands of various sizes.
It features thousands of limestone karsts andislets in various shapes and sizes. The limestone in the bay has gonethrough 500 million years of formation in different conditions andenvironments.
Last year, Quang Ninh hosted the NationalTourism Year 2018 under the theme “Ha Long-Heritage, Wonder, FriendlyDestination”. The province welcomed 12.3 million visitors, including 5.2million foreigners, and earned 24 trillion VND (1.03 billion USD) in tourismrevenue.
The operation of the Van Don InternationalAirport in December 2018 is expected to help Quang Ninh achieve its target ofwelcoming 15-16 million tourists, including 7 million foreigners, by 2020 and30 million arrivals, including 15 million foreigners, by 2030.
Therefore, local authorities have been offeringmany incentives to promote the launch of flights to the airport, the first ofits kind invested by a private business in Vietnam.
Passengers on flights to Van Don can visit anumber of local attractions including the complex of Yen Tu monuments andlandscapes, the world natural heritage site of Ha Long Bay, and Bai Tu Long Bayfree of charge within 30 days since their arrival at this airport./.
VNA
