On November 1, 2014, Quang Ninh province celebrates the 20th anniversary since Ha Long Bay has been recognised as the World Natural Heritage by UNESCO. As Ha Long Bay is defined as an invaluable natural resource and a big contributor to economic development, Quang Ninh province is promoting the values of Ha Long Bay to make it the best tourist attraction in the world.
Huge potential
Tourist arrivals to Ha Long Bay keep rising thanks to the province’s endless efforts in the management, conservation and promotion of heritage values. Ha Long Bay has welcomed 26.6 million visitors since 1996, of which over 13.7 million are Vietnamese and 12.9 million are foreigners. Sightseeing fee revenue has exceeded VND1,000 billion, a very significant figure for the management and promotion of Ha Long Bay.
So far, Quang Ninh has invested in a lot of projects in Ha Long Bay, including Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Beach, Soi Sim Beach and Cua Van Floating Cultural Centre. Construction works basically follow the Master Plan for Preservation and Promotion of Ha Long Bay Heritage Values until 2020, meet quality and socioeconomic efficiency requirements as well as heritage requirements. These works protect natural values on the one hand and enhance added values and appeals to tourists.
Together with management and conservation works, the Ha Long Bay Management Board maintains good cooperation relations and exchanges with international organisations to seek their assistances like the World Heritage Committee - UNESCO, the Centre for World Heritages, the Asia - Pacific World Natural Heritage Network, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum(EATOF), the Club of the World's Most Beautiful Bays, the New Open World Organisation, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). From these relationships, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has organised a lot of exchanges on economy and culture, particularly tourism field, with other countries and international agencies. Many projects have been funded by international sources. The combined efforts have helped uplift the position, prestige and image of Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh and Vietnam to the world.
To create tourism products, routes and destinations in Ha Long Bay and reduce visitor pressures at the core of the heritage, Quang Ninh province decided to recognise three new tourist routes on Bai Tu Long Bay to offer more choices for tourists and facilitate preservation works.
Joined forces by communities and businesses
Quang Ninh province advocates applying the public - private partnership (PPP) form to manage and exploit Ha Long Bay to enhance the efficiency. Revenues and expenses will be separated for commercial business and heritage conservation. The heritage conservation will be assigned to the Ha Long Bay Management Board while companies will be responsible for collecting sightseeing fees and other services. Companies will administer sightseeing and service fee collection, not Ha Long Bay.
Therefore, they will join hands with local communities to operate and maximise tourism potential of Ha Long Bay. A factor that makes management achivements and promotes heritage values is the benefit sharing with businesses and communities. Individuals, organisations and units directly engaged in tourism service activities in Ha Long Bay are the first to be benefited from the sharing. Passenger transportation at bay is the primary and the most typical business activity.
According to statistics, about 500 boats of all kinds are operating at bay, capable of transporting 30,000 tourists a day. Over 145 boats serve overnight accommodation. Every year, bay sightseers reach 2.5-2.7 million on average. This shows the vibrant, bustling tourism activities at bay. Besides, bay-side restaurants, hotels and services providers also indirectly benefit from the bay when they serve tourists. Notably, local fishing communities play a vital role in the management, conservation and promotion of heritage values. In addition to developing aquaculture and commercial fishing, fishermen are directly involved and shared with tourism development benefits by joining tourism activities, typically rowing boats to serve sightseers. This service was created in 2009 - an ecological, community-based tourism product which is very attractive to tourists, especially foreigners. Currently, four companies are providing this service with a fleet of 108 boats, manned by over 100 people. It serves 20,000 visitors a month on average. Fishermen also work for the Ha Long Bay Management Board and other businesses.
Quang Ninh province is calling investment capital for new destinations, accommodations and services to better serve tourists to Ha Long Bay. The authority will collect landscape fees while companies will provide services.
Duy Hung
Tourist arrivals to Ha Long Bay keep rising thanks to the province’s endless efforts in the management, conservation and promotion of heritage values. Ha Long Bay has welcomed 26.6 million visitors since 1996, of which over 13.7 million are Vietnamese and 12.9 million are foreigners. Sightseeing fee revenue has exceeded VND1,000 billion, a very significant figure for the management and promotion of Ha Long Bay.So far, Quang Ninh has invested in a lot of projects in Ha Long Bay, including Thien Cung Cave, Dau Go Cave, Sung Sot Cave, Ti Top Beach, Soi Sim Beach and Cua Van Floating Cultural Centre. Construction works basically follow the Master Plan for Preservation and Promotion of Ha Long Bay Heritage Values until 2020, meet quality and socioeconomic efficiency requirements as well as heritage requirements. These works protect natural values on the one hand and enhance added values and appeals to tourists.Together with management and conservation works, the Ha Long Bay Management Board maintains good cooperation relations and exchanges with international organisations to seek their assistances like the World Heritage Committee - UNESCO, the Centre for World Heritages, the Asia - Pacific World Natural Heritage Network, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the East Asia Inter-Regional Tourism Forum(EATOF), the Club of the World's Most Beautiful Bays, the New Open World Organisation, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). From these relationships, the Ha Long Bay Management Board has organised a lot of exchanges on economy and culture, particularly tourism field, with other countries and international agencies. Many projects have been funded by international sources. The combined efforts have helped uplift the position, prestige and image of Ha Long Bay, Quang Ninh and Vietnam to the world.To create tourism products, routes and destinations in Ha Long Bay and reduce visitor pressures at the core of the heritage, Quang Ninh province decided to recognise three new tourist routes on Bai Tu Long Bay to offer more choices for tourists and facilitate preservation works.Quang Ninh province advocates applying the public - private partnership (PPP) form to manage and exploit Ha Long Bay to enhance the efficiency. Revenues and expenses will be separated for commercial business and heritage conservation. The heritage conservation will be assigned to the Ha Long Bay Management Board while companies will be responsible for collecting sightseeing fees and other services. Companies will administer sightseeing and service fee collection, not Ha Long Bay.Therefore, they will join hands with local communities to operate and maximise tourism potential of Ha Long Bay. A factor that makes management achivements and promotes heritage values is the benefit sharing with businesses and communities. Individuals, organisations and units directly engaged in tourism service activities in Ha Long Bay are the first to be benefited from the sharing. Passenger transportation at bay is the primary and the most typical business activity.According to statistics, about 500 boats of all kinds are operating at bay, capable of transporting 30,000 tourists a day. Over 145 boats serve overnight accommodation. Every year, bay sightseers reach 2.5-2.7 million on average. This shows the vibrant, bustling tourism activities at bay. Besides, bay-side restaurants, hotels and services providers also indirectly benefit from the bay when they serve tourists. Notably, local fishing communities play a vital role in the management, conservation and promotion of heritage values. In addition to developing aquaculture and commercial fishing, fishermen are directly involved and shared with tourism development benefits by joining tourism activities, typically rowing boats to serve sightseers. This service was created in 2009 - an ecological, community-based tourism product which is very attractive to tourists, especially foreigners. Currently, four companies are providing this service with a fleet of 108 boats, manned by over 100 people. It serves 20,000 visitors a month on average. Fishermen also work for the Ha Long Bay Management Board and other businesses.Quang Ninh province is calling investment capital for new destinations, accommodations and services to better serve tourists to Ha Long Bay. The authority will collect landscape fees while companies will provide services.
Vietnamese
