Associate Professor Dr. Pham Trung Luong, former Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research, member of the National Planning Advisory Group, is still concerned about the fact that Cat Ba tourism has not changed much since he and many experts built a project to contribute to Hai Phong tourism development more than ten years ago.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Trung Luong, Former Deputy Director of the Institute for Tourism Development Research.
“Cat Ba becomes an international tourist destination”
- What do you think about the development of Cat Ba tourism in a green direction?
We (Vietnam Institute of Sustainable Tourism) have established a project to develop sustainable tourism in Cat Ba archipelago since 2011. The project has a strategic vision for green growth in Vietnam, which is to develop green tourism, making Cat Ba one of the first green tourism destinations in Vietnam.
Hai Phong has achieved some results such as Langur conservation associated with ecotourism; UNESCO recognized Cat Ba World Biosphere Reserve with a focus on Cat Ba National Park; UNESCO recognized Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as a World Natural Heritage. However, to date, Cat Ba has not really been named on the national and world green tourism map.
- Why sir?
The ecological and landscape values of Cat Ba have been recognized by the world. However, to develop ecotourism and green tourism in the true sense, it is not only based on the above factors.
Vietnam's tourism development plan since 1995 identified Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba Archipelago as an area of global tourism value, from which it proposed to develop Ha Long - Cat Ba into one of four comprehensive national tourist areas. However, Ha Long - Cat Ba has not yet received adequate investment.
Although this is regrettable, it is never too late to realize the goals and expectations of the Ha Long - Cat Ba national tourist area of 28 years ago and recently of the Vietnam Tourism Development Strategy to 2030, Vietnam Tourism System Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2045.
To successfully achieve the goal of developing Cat Ba into an international green tourism destination, we need dedicated, experienced and visionary investors, working hand in hand with tourism planners and the determination of authorities at all levels.
- Do you think it is feasible to build Cat Ba into a carbon-neutral ecological island?
Since 2011, Cat Ba tourism has been oriented and planned to become a distinct destination: a truly green island, reducing carbon emissions. By 2025, Cat Ba will no longer use gasoline or carbon-emitting fuel vehicles. Even on the island, only rudimentary vehicles are used, no motor vehicles. This is a difference in the direction of developing green tourism, which at that time did not have a clear concept. It is the difference that will create the appeal and attract international visitors.
In addition, the impacts of tourism on the environment will be strictly controlled. Cat Ba has a very good development idea, approved by the city government with the consensus of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. However, investing in green tourism will not bring immediate results or visible benefits. It needs investors with strategic vision, enthusiasm and experience.
It's time for Ngoc Cat Ba Island to reach its heights.
- In your opinion, what should the government, investors and community do to turn Cat Ba into a green eco-tourism island?
Cat Ba Island has developed a passenger tram system and the Cat Hai – Phu Long cable car route: means of transport that help reduce carbon emissions.
Cat Ba has begun to limit emission vehicles with the support of the tourism business community and Sun Group. I hope Cat Ba will realize the goal of not accepting motor vehicles to the island.
Cat Ba Central Bay is located in a tourism development area. (Photo: TL)
The Cat Ba development project encourages the use of only biofuel vehicles. According to the roadmap, no more residents or tourists will use gasoline vehicles. To get closer to that goal, it is necessary to have a roadmap that includes parking infrastructure, electric charging systems, and the development of more environmentally friendly means of transportation.
This requires consistency in direction and large investment resources, requiring the government, strategic investors, and the community to firmly turn Cat Ba into the first green eco-tourism island in Vietnam, even in the region.
- In your opinion, what role do strategic investors play in the tourism development roadmap, bringing the Pearl Island to new heights?
From idea to reality is a long way and without strategic investors it is very difficult to implement. Investing in a green tourism destination costs a lot of resources and does not easily bring “visible” benefits in the short term. Therefore, developing Cat Ba green tourism destination requires strategic investors who have financial potential, enthusiasm, experience and vision.
Based on the principle of sustainable development, Cat Ba clearly plans functional zones for tourism development and exploitation with different levels of conservation. The central area of Cat Ba Island is allowed to develop at a high level and has many tourism advantages, but the scale of the project is still small and unconnected.
From a tourism perspective, in addition to the goal of being a green destination, reducing emissions with high-class resorts and activities associated with conservation, Cat Ba still needs resorts and services for the masses, providing full services and synchronized sea tourism facilities for guests as well as residents. The project being implemented in Cat Ba Central Bay is an example.
The project will bring large public areas such as squares, avenues, where it is easy to organize traditional cultural events, tourism events. The project also has an artificial beach nearly 1km long. In this area, the largest beach on Cat Ba Island will be developed, supplementing the currently lacking and overloaded facilities on the island. To implement this project, it is necessary to have a strategic investor with heart, vision and adherence to the principles of sustainable development.
Developing a destination with mass tourism areas is in line with the development trend, both preserving ecological and cultural values and linking them with the development activities of the community and tourists.
However, it is necessary to focus on managing sustainable tourism development activities. That means new development projects need to respect the principles of environmentally friendly tourism, and need to have a system to treat wastewater and waste from tourism activities.
In particular, we focus on applying 3R technology (save - reuse - recycle) and using renewable energy in tourism operations to reduce carbon emissions. To do this, we need strategic investors with heart and capacity, playing the role of investing in large projects, leading other businesses to follow.
- How do you evaluate Sun Group's investment in Cat Ba tourism development project?
Following the orientation of sustainable tourism development and green ecology, Hai Phong has chosen the right leading investor in tourism. Sun Group is an investor with strategic vision and is very passionate about the development of sustainable tourism in the lands where Sun Group is invited to invest.
The Cat Ba Central Bay Tourism and Commercial Service Area project will bring the largest public beach on Cat Ba Island. (Illustrative perspective photo)
In addition to the well-researched plans for long-term development vision, I will give an example of the Cat Ba Central Bay Tourism, Trade and Service Area project that Sun Group is investing in. It will need many tourism and service activities to stimulate more and more tourism demand to Cat Ba.
Not only is the tourism infrastructure invested synchronously and on a large scale, this project will bring the largest beach ever, making up for the lack of beaches on the island, helping to increase its attractiveness. Domestic and international tourists will not only experience the nature and biodiversity of Cat Ba but also swim, have fun, and experience activities by the sea. This shows that Sun Group has researched very carefully with investment projects, showing the heart and vision of the investor.
I highly appreciate Hai Phong's choice of a strategic investor like Sun Group. I have complete confidence in Sun Group's passion, experience and capacity in developing tourism projects in Cat Ba through Sun Group's successful investment in developing high-class tourist destinations in Sa Pa, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, Phu Quoc, Tay Ninh.
With capacity, experience and "success formula", Sun Group's projects will help Cat Ba increasingly affirm its position on the world tourism map.
Thank you!
Source: https://vtcnews.vn/chuyen-gia-khuyen-nghi-lo-trinh-dua-cat-ba-thanh-dao-du-lich-xanh-toan-dien-ar911328.html
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