Ha Long Bay is famous for spectacular limestone pillars. Quang Ninh province boasts huge potentials to develop sustainable green tourism (Photo: VNA)
Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and over 2,000 islets which account for two-thirds of the total number in Vietnam. The spectacular stretch of coast connects the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site of Ha Long Bay with majestic natural scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don and Co To islands and Tra Co beach with Cat Ba National Park in the northern port city of Hai Phong.
Ha Long Bay, Cat Ba island and Do Son beach (Hai Phong city) are prioritised to develop into national tourism sites.
Along with the renowned Ha Long Bay, Quan Lan, Minh Chau, Ngoc Vung, Dai beaches in Van Don island district and Tra Co and Vinh Thuc in Mong Cai city have grown in stature among domestic and international tourists thanks to their breathtaking sea and coral reef.
Advantages in terms of geographic location, terrain and natural resources have turned Quang Ninh into a magnet for investors. Since the end of 2013, the province has attracted more than100 projects with total investment of 5.5 billion USD, most of which have been poured into tourism.
Tuan Chau Group splashed out nearly VND50 trillion (USD2.2 billion) to develop Tuan Chau Marina - Vietnam’s largest port, entertainment zones, villas, coastal four-star hotels and a golf course, among others.
Vietnam’s leading real estate developer Vingroup’s Vincom Centre Ha Long shopping mall and high-end Vinpearl Ha Long Bay Resort were put into operation. The group also invested over VND12 trillion (USD528 million) on a 68-hectare tourism resort and new urban area.
Sun Group and FLC Group are also helping give a facelift to Quang Ninh with opulent tourism resorts, a golf course, entertainment complexes and a cable car system.
In addition, the province has been juiced up with big foreign investment projects from the US, China, Thailand and the UAE. Renowned names like Wyndham, Starwood, ISC Corp, Amata and Nakheel have come to the locality to develop tourism infrastructure.
According to Trinh Dang Thanh, Vice Director of the provincial Department of Tourism, the province prefers projects promoting sustainable green tourism and protecting natural landscapes.
In its development plan, Quang Ninh province is calling investments in 14 large eco-tourism property projects during 2016-2020 to branch out four key tourism sites: Ha Long, Mong Cai-Tra Co, Van Don-Co To, Uong Bi-Dong Trieu- Quang Yen.
Comprehensive planning and spot-on stance on investment attraction will be the key to balancing economic benefits and natural resource protection in Quang Ninh province.
By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, including seven million foreigners, and rake in VND30-40 trillion (USD1.3-1.7 billion) in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15 percent to the gross regional domestic product (GRDP).
In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomes 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of seven percent, and earned over VND13 trillion (USD571 million) in revenue, up 23 percent, according to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism.
Particularly, Ha Long welcomed 6.3 million tourists and grossed VND7.7 trillion (over USD338 million) in revenue, representing respective increases of 14 percent and 65 percent from the previous year. About 2.7 million of the visitors were foreigners, a year-on-year growth of 16 percent./.