Blue sail – Quang Ninh's environmental protection initiative

Currently, the Blue sail eco-label have been awarded to 36 tourist boats on Ha Long Bay

Over the years, Quang Ninh province has always strictly implemented the transfer of economic growth model so called from “brown to green”. Quang Ninh Provincial People’s Committee has carried out robust measures and issued a great number of documents on Ha Long Bay’s environmental protection such as collecting waste, relocating fishermen’s houses on the Bay to the mainland, making plannings for fishing village residential areas, propagandizing to raise awareness of boat owners, tourism operators and tourists in compliance with the laws on environmental protection etc.

One of the recent practical activities is the development and implementation of the Blue sail eco-label criteria under the economic cooperation project “Green growth promotion in Ha Long Bay Area, Quang Ninh Province”, 2nd phase, funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), with the aim of promoting green growth through sustainable environmental protection and tourism development policies. Accordingly, the Blue sail eco-label is a trademark granted to tourist boats that meet environmental protection standards and social responsibility as well.

Partaking the Blue sail eco-lable system, relevant units can enjoy benefits thanks to Quang Ninh’s preferiential policies, such as extending operation time of blue sail labelled tourist boats, granting the license to expand the operating area and diversify services activities on the Bay, including kayaking, water sports, food and drink, event management, mountain forest exploration etc.

Along with that, Quang Ninh province has provided support policies on marketing and tourism promotion to build and protect the prestige of the Blue sail brand, such as using logos, marketing and popularizing the Blue sail label brand, being introduced and promoted by the Blue sail label at green exhibitions, trade and tourism promotion events and in the provincial publications and mass media. Futhermore, the tourism enterprises joining the Blue sail eco-lable system have great opportunites to connect with partners at Blue sail events such as FAM tours, exhibitions and fair etc.

To date, the Blue sail eco-label have been awarded to 36 tourist boats operating on Ha Long Bay. In the coming time, JICA experts will continue accompanying the provincial Review Panel of granting Blue sail eco-label in promoting to both domestic and foreign markets.

Translated by Thu Giang