Potential of geological tourism in Quang Ninh

With its terrain of many mountains, rivers, bays, and rocky islands, Quang Ninh has great potential for developing geological tourism.

The Hon Trong Mai area is chosen by most tourists when visiting Ha Long Bay. — The Hon Trong Mai area is chosen by many tourists when visiting Ha Long Bay.

Geotourism is understood as a type of tourism that provides visitors with information, knowledge and understanding of the geological, geomorphological and geographical characteristics of a place associated with the protection and sustainable development of the environment, heritage, aesthetics, culture and happiness of the community... The purpose of geotourism is to help visitors enjoy visiting and experiencing the beauty and magnificence of geology, topography, geomorphology associated with the culture, history and indigenous religion of famous landscapes. Thereby helping visitors understand the tangible and intangible values, thereby appreciating and joining hands to protect and preserve famous landscapes.

Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Hai, Rector of the University of Mining and Geology, said: Geotourism is a branch of the tourism industry, a new and alternative form of tourism that emerged in the early 21st century, especially when geoparks were established and legalized, in which important geological heritages with rich natural and cultural environments are protected and promoted, leading to the development of responsible tourism, local economic development and sustainable development. Geotourism focuses on elements of geological diversity, learning or admiring geological and geomorphological/landscape features with the aim of promoting an improved understanding of earth sciences, raising awareness of the importance of preserving geological diversity and protecting the environment through education and enjoyment of those resources.

Along with Ha Long Bay, Bai Tu Long also has many very attractive geological features.

In addition, geotourism also promotes other natural values, along with the historical, cultural and social values of the heritage area. Thus, geotourism creates opportunities for visitors to enhance their in-depth awareness of geology, geological heritage sites and geological diversity of the area, beyond the boundaries of conventional landscape contemplation. It should be emphasized that geotourism is a new direction, combining applied geology with tourism, and is a form of geological conservation. In other words, geotourism involves the application of geological knowledge to integrate and promote forms of ecotourism.

Quang Ninh has many strengths in developing geological tourism with an area of over 12,000km2, including 6,206.9km2 of land and sea surface area with the outer boundary 6 nautical miles from the average low water line for many years, as determined and announced by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. 80% of the province's land area is mountainous with a width of 195km from East to West and a length of 102km from North to South. Quang Ninh has diverse terrain from mountainous to midland and coastal plain, coastal areas and islands, creating a diverse climate, ecosystem and geology. The complex mountainous terrain divides the province into 2 regions: East and West.

Quang Ninh has a unique coastal archipelago terrain consisting of large and small islands. Among them, Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay are natural treasures with exceptional value, unique grandeur, thousands of limestone islands, white sand beaches serving tourism and raw materials for glass technology. The seabed terrain has reefs that are home to diverse coral reefs, which are favorable factors for tourism development. According to research, Quang Ninh has 21 geological units and 2 magma complexes. Some units have discovered related minerals serving the development of mining, mineral processing and construction materials production industries. Ha Long is an excellent model of mature limestone karst in humid tropical conditions, with the most complete karst evolution process spanning 20 million years from the Miocene period.

The aesthetic value of heritage sites includes attractive landscapes due to geological features or geological processes. Many heritage sites can be tourist destinations and provide important economic benefits. The value of geological heritage and geological diversity can be effectively exploited for economic development by exploiting them effectively and sustainably for scientific, educational and tourism purposes, especially those that have been recognized.

Among them, Ha Long Bay was recognized by UNESCO for the second time as a World Heritage Site with outstanding global value in terms of historical geology and karst geomorphology in 2000. In 2024, Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh) - Cat Ba Archipelago (Hai Phong) was recognized by the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS) as an International Geological Heritage at the 37th International Geological Congress (IGC) held in Busan (Korea).

Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Hai said: The current natural morphology of Ha Long Bay area and the adjacent mainland as well as Cat Ba Archipelago is the result of a long-term regional geological tectonic movement on a diverse geological background and in special geological environments that have been taking place continuously for more than 500 million years and are still ongoing. The combined results of geological processes have created diversity and uniqueness in geological - geomorphological - landscape elements and formed geological heritages of outstanding global value. These are special geological features that need to be promoted, effectively exploited to serve socio-economic development, and must be strictly preserved and conserved to serve the goal of sustainable development.

Many pine and pine forests in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay need attention and research for tourism exploitation.

According to Prof. Dr. Tran Thanh Hai, to develop geological tourism, it is necessary to develop plans, scenarios and appropriate forms of tourism based on the integration of the above detailed survey parameters in a scientific, synchronous manner and with the participation of all relevant parties. At the same time, it is necessary to develop training programs and raise public awareness in understanding the value of heritage and protecting geological heritage, build a system of educational and propaganda documents on geological heritage; organize forms of information and propaganda to promote geological heritage, explain their importance and the urgency of protecting the heritage.

Quang Ninh should also implement policies, regulations and sanctions to effectively exploit, manage, conserve and protect geological heritage. Identify the interests of stakeholders in educational, scientific research, economic, environmental and community values to establish heritage sites, areas and geoparks, and promote the development of geotourism with the cooperation of stakeholders in developing economic activities in harmony with heritage protection.

Huynh Dang

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