The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Quang Ninh People's Committee held an international conference on preserving and promoting the values of the World Natural Heritage Site in Ha Long Bay. To transform Ha Long Bay into an international brand, the preservation, restoration and exploitation of the site needs a new framework to ensure the site remains a natural wonder of the world and an endless treasure for Quang Ninh.
Ha Long Bay has become one of Vietnam's most famous landmarks, having twice been recognized by UNESCO as a world natural heritage in 1994 and 2000 and a new natural wonder of the world in 2011.
According to Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh, due to Halong Bay's outstanding natural and cultural values, the number of tourists visiting Quang Ninh and Ha Long Bay has increased over the years. In 2011, the total number of tourists to Quang Ninh reached more than 5.5 million, including 2.3 million international visitors. Tourism revenue reached nearly VND4 trillion, creating jobs for tens of thousands of people. In the first six months of this year, tourist visits to Quang Ninh reached 4.2 million, including 1.2 million international visitors. Tourism activities in Ha Long have spread to many industries and sectors, confirming its importance in Quang Ninh's local economy and underlining its position as one of Vietnam's leading destinations.
While tourism at Ha Long Bay has grown, the preservation of the area's natural characteristics have become more of an issue, begging the question how it can maintain growth through sustainable development. Quang Ninh Province in recent years has issued several documents and action programs about Ha Long, and adopted many measures to preserve and promote the heritage value of Ha Long Bay among domestic and foreign visitors. However, rapid development has threatened Halong Bay's environment.
Scientists and experts in the field of domestic and foreign tourism presented 21 speeches frankly pointing out the limitations, opportunities and threats to the development of Halong tourism. International speakers discussed and compared the outstanding values and advantages of Ha Long Bay with regional and international heritages and world natural wonders. In addition, a conference also set out the requirements and proposed solutions on planning, managing, preserving, investing and developing products, organizing services and managing quality and maintaining the local environment.
With the help of leading experts from the EU, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Quang Ninh People's Committee have developed a strategy to preserve and promote the values of the World Natural Heritage Site in Ha Long Bay with a new vision and the focus on destination management. However, the key task is that the natural wonder will be preserved and promoted, with every visitor and local acting as an ambassador for this unique world heritage site.