Plan helps protect aquatic resources in Ha Long Bay
Ha Long city in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has issued a plan on intensifying measures to protect aquatic resources in Ha Long Bay - a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site - during the 2017-2020 period.
With Ha Long Bay - one of the seven natural masterpieces of the world, the city is a must-go place for those who spend holidays in Vietnam, in particular Quang Ninh province.
Ha Long Bay is prioritised to develop into national tourism sites. It welcomed 6.3 million tourists and grossed VND7.7 trillion (over US$338 million) in revenue, representing respective increases of 14% and 65% from the previous year. Of the visitors, about 2.7 million were foreigners, a year-on-year growth of 16%.
Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and over 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam.
Under a plan for tourism development in Quang Ninh, the province hopes to become an international tourism centre and a leading tourism destination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and diverse, competitive tourism products.
By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, including seven million foreigners, and rake in VND30trillion - VND40 trillion (US$1.3-US$1.7 billion) in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14%-15% to the gross regional domestic product.
In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomed 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of seven percent, and earned over VND13 trillion (US$571 million) in revenue, up 23%, according to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism.