To sustainably develop Ha Long Bay, over the past three decades, the province has issued many policies and implemented many breakthrough solutions, becoming a strong driving force to promote green economy and heritage economy.
Over the past years, the province has closely followed and fully implemented Vietnamese law and the International Convention on the Protection of World Cultural and Natural Heritage to synchronously and effectively deploy many solutions in the management, conservation and sustainable development of the World Natural Heritage Ha Long Bay. In particular, the province has implemented many pioneering and breakthrough solutions, demonstrating its determination to prioritize the preservation of the Heritage values such as: Relocating fishing households on the Bay to live on shore since 2014; banning fishing in the absolute protection area of the Heritage site since 2018; establishing aquaculture planning points outside the absolute protection area of the Heritage; ending the loading and unloading and transporting of bulk cargo clinker, cement, and wood chips on Ha Long Bay.
In addition, the province has many solutions to protect the environment, such as: Attracting projects and resources to protect the Bay environment, controlling pollution from the source; implementing the program "Ha Long Bay without plastic waste"; closely coordinating with Hai Phong City to control and protect the environment of Ha Long Bay; focusing on collecting floating waste in the tourism service area and the tidal flats, foot of the island, and sandbanks on the Bay, transporting it to shore for treatment; collecting coastal waste and drainage pipes to Ha Long Bay. At the same time, units conduct quarterly periodic monitoring and supervision of the Bay's water environment, regularly monitor and inspect the environment, and strictly handle violations.
Mr. Michael Burnside, an expert from the University of New South Wales, shared: During the visit to Ha Long Bay within the framework of the Workshop on “Promoting Marine and Coastal Resource Accounting”, I was very impressed with the beauty of Ha Long Bay. In particular, when I heard about the environmental protection and development of the value of Ha Long Bay, I gained more experience to apply to future research projects. Quang Ninh is doing a great job of making people, even tourists, the center of solutions to sustainably protect the environment of Ha Long Bay. They are the ones who participate in collecting waste, limiting waste sources and promoting and mobilizing the community to join hands to protect Ha Long Bay.
The province is determined to implement a plan to replace tourist boats on Ha Long Bay by reducing the number, increasing quality, safety and increasing exploitation efficiency. Every year, the province conducts inspections, assessments and classifications of the quality of boats in terms of aesthetics, safety and fire prevention. The province requires 100% of tourist boats to sign operating contracts with the Heritage management agency for management, inspection and supervision. At the same time, the "Green Sail" Eco-label criteria set is applied to tourist boats; business and service activities on Ha Long Bay are reviewed comprehensively and tightly managed and controlled. Propaganda, promotion and community education activities; exploiting the effective propaganda role of social networks; applying IT and digital technology are promoted, contributing to improving the effectiveness of management, conservation and sustainable promotion of the value of Ha Long Bay Heritage.
From 1996 to present, Ha Long Bay has welcomed nearly 58 million visitors, including over 26 million Vietnamese visitors and 32 million foreign visitors; entrance fees have reached over VND8,823 billion. |
The province's policies and solutions for sustainable development of Ha Long Bay have always received support, advice and endorsement from international organizations, through close ties with organizations such as: World Heritage Committee, World Heritage Center, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), Marine Protected Areas Network, Asia-Pacific World Natural Heritage Network, World's Most Beautiful Bays Club... Through that, many exchange activities with countries in and outside the region on economy - culture, especially in the field of Heritage management and conservation have been implemented, many projects and programs have been funded and implemented.
To promote the value of heritage, the province diversifies tourism products and services, improves the quality of experience for visitors, and aims to develop sustainable tourism. Specifically, the province improves the quality of traditional tourism products; develops new routes, destinations, and tourism products and services; expands tourism spaces to enhance experiences, prolong visitors' vacation time, and reduce pressure on heritage areas; directs the addition of new tourism services to meet the needs of the high-spending tourist market, such as: new beaches, caves, areas with beautiful and safe landscapes; develops unique souvenir products with the unique identity of the Bay...
In the Quang Ninh Provincial Planning for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050; Ha Long City Planning to 2040... all link the conservation and sustainable development of Ha Long Bay as the key goal and task in long-term orientations.
Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Head of Ha Long Bay Management Board, said: Quang Ninh focuses on improving governance efficiency through continuing to review and perfect heritage management mechanisms, completing and implementing plans, regulations, and plans for sustainable tourism development in Ha Long Bay. At the same time, we also build a digital database on resources and heritage values, deploy tasks of periodically monitoring conservation status, effectively managing special-use forests, minimizing waste and wastewater; enhancing the role and participation of local people, communities and stakeholders in conjunction with propaganda, raising awareness of heritage protection, resource and environmental protection on the basis of renewing thinking, changing behavior, sense of responsibility towards nature and the environment, towards a green lifestyle.
Hoang Quynh
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