18:19, 16/08/2023
BHG - On the afternoon of August 16, the Provincial People's Committee, the Steering Committee for Tourism Development and the Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark (DGNGP) held a conference to review the construction and development of the Dong Van Stone Plateau UNESCO Global Geopark in the period of 2018 - 2022; and deploy key tasks for the period of 2023 - 2027. Comrades: Nguyen Van Son, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Tran Duc Quy, Member of the Provincial Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee co-chaired the conference.
 |
| Conference overview. |
Attending the event were Mr. Dao Quyen Truong, Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Diplomacy and UNESCO Vietnam; Professor Guy Martini, Senior Advisor, Chairman of the Council, General Secretary of the UNESCO World Heritage Park Network; Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, Coordinator of the World Heritage Park Network; leaders of the Department of Cultural Heritage, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Institute of Geosciences and Minerals; consultants and scientists.
On the side of our province, there were members of the Provincial Party Committee: Ly Thi Lan, Deputy Head of the 15th National Assembly Delegation of Ha Giang province; Chung Thi Chien, Permanent Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial People's Council; leaders of the Provincial Party Committee's Party Building Committees, departments, branches and sectors; Standing Committees of the People's Committees of districts in the Dong Van Unesco Cultural Heritage Park area.
 |
| Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Son and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Tran Duc Quy chaired the conference. |
On October 3, 2010, Dong Van Geopark was officially recognized as a member by the Advisory Council of the Geopark Network, becoming the second Geopark in Southeast Asia and the first Geopark in Vietnam. Dong Van Geopark has successfully passed 3 re-evaluations of UNESCO Geopark Network membership in 2014, 2018 and 2022. Currently, Dong Van Geopark has become an attractive tourist destination in the country and the world; the number of tourists has grown rapidly and steadily, from 300,000 in 2010 to 2.2 million in 2022 and is expected to reach 3 million in 2023. Tourism development contributes to clearly changing the socio-economic landscape, creating jobs and increasing income for people. The poverty reduction rate of 4 districts in the industrial zone reached over 6%/year, 1-2% higher than the average poverty reduction rate of the province...
 |
| Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Son spoke at the conference. |
At the conference, the Unesco consulting group and delegates highly appreciated the initial success in tourism development and attracting visitors to Dong Van Geopark. At the same time, they discussed and pointed out a number of shortcomings that need to be resolved such as: Threats from illegal stone mining activities; illegal construction works, not in accordance with planning; traditional house architecture is fading, losing the attractiveness of heritage sites and landscapes. Experts said: The province needs to pay attention to and support the work of zoning new conservation areas; issue decisions to ensure that conservation work is legally appropriate. Establish a rapid response system in localities to receive information and intervene from the beginning with violations of conservation work. Complete regulations and support policies on construction in the Geopark area, ensuring the preservation of traditional architecture in harmony with the landscape. Pay attention to preserving intangible cultural heritage values by clearly identifying the cultural values of each ethnic group to carry out preservation work, associated with teaching to the younger generation.
 |
| Professor Guy Martini, Senior Advisor, Chairman of the Council, Secretary General of the UNESCO World Heritage Parks Network spoke at the conference. |
One issue that experts and delegates are concerned about is the management board of Dong Van Geopark, under the provincial Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism. According to analysis, the management of the Geopark is currently facing a rapid increase and expansion of socio-economic activities in the region, so it is difficult to respond promptly to acts of heritage encroachment. Therefore, the province needs to make necessary decisions, including rebuilding an effective management board, especially establishing the management board of Dong Van Geopark under the provincial People's Committee and headed by the provincial People's Committee leader to ensure smooth direction, management and resolution of arising issues...
 |
| Associate Professor, Dr. Tran Tan Van, Coordinator of the DCTC Park Network, spoke at the conference. |
Speaking at the conference, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Van Son accepted the comments and pledged to direct the implementation of appropriate scientific advice to ensure the sustainable development of Dong Van Geopark, fully meeting the criteria of a member of the Unesco Geopark network. At the same time, he requested ministries, branches and central professional agencies to continue supporting the province in the work of preserving, embellishing and promoting the value of the Geopark, especially the task groups of building a legal corridor for geoparks; conservation knowledge and techniques; promotion and training; operation of tourist areas and spots; cultural diplomacy; orientation to find investment capital for tourism infrastructure.
The Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee requested the provincial departments and branches to advise on the issuance of a detailed plan to effectively implement the tasks for the period 2023 - 2027; determined to build and develop the Geopark in a sustainable direction; maintain the title of Unesco Geopark of Dong Van Geopark and move towards building the Dong Van Geopark National Tourist Area by 2030. For the People's Committees of districts in the Geopark area, it is necessary to be more proactive in the management, conservation and promotion of the value of the Geopark. Proactively coordinate and unify in conservation and development activities. Focus on removing difficulties to preserve and develop the Geopark, serving socio-economic development. Strengthen inspection, review, prevention and avoidance of violations of the law. Organize extensive propaganda in the community to always unite, preserve cultural identity, use cultural heritage to develop tourism, create livelihoods, escape poverty and get rich, contribute to building the homeland of Ha Giang to develop more and more...
At the conference, many collectives and individuals were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee for their outstanding achievements in the management, protection and development of Dong Van National Park; and received Certificates of Merit from the Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism for their achievements in participating in the re-evaluation of Dong Van National Park for the period 2018 - 2022.
News and photos: Kim Tien
Source
Comment (0)