The northeastern province of Quang Ninh will host a number of activities in response to the Vietnam Sea and Island Week, which is scheduled to kick off in the locality on May 31.

The event will begin with an art performance themed “Joining hands to keep the blue sea” and a workshop on youths with sustainable development and protection of national sea and island sovereignty.

A contest composing songs on Vietnamese seas and islands will be launched at the opening ceremony.

Various activities will be held in response to the Vietnam Sea and Island Week and the World Ocean Day 2018 on June 1 such as visiting and presenting gifts to sea cleaning forces, conferences and seminars on effective use and management of marine resources, and protection of sea and island environment.

According to Pham Ngoc Long, Chief of the Office of the Vietnam Administration of Seas and Islands, besides Quang Ninh, the Vietnam Sea and Island Week is scheduled to take place simultaneously in the central province of Quang Tri and the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu.

Response activities will also be observed across the country, especially in coastal localities, from June 1-8.

Quang Ninh is endowed with natural advantages for sea and island tourism. It is home to the Ha Long and Bai Tu Long Bays, the Ha Long Bay National Park and some islands, the best known of which is Co To and Van Don. 

In particular, Ha Long Bay has been twice recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). The Heritage site has become a magnet drawing visitors to Quang Ninh. 

In 2017, a total of 9.87 million tourists visited the province, including 4.28 million foreigners. More than 70 percent of the tourists came via sea and island tours. 

The province aims to attract over 12 million visitors this year, including 5 million foreigners.

Quang Ninh is expanding the space for sea and island tourism farther from Ha Long Bay towards islands such as Co To, Van Don and Hai Ha. 

Equipped with a strategic vision for developing the sea-based economy, the province in 2014 approved an Overall Plan for tourism development to 2020 with a vision to 2030. 

Under the scheme, the sea space in Quang Ninh is divided into five zones, which are the strictly preserved Ha Long Bay, the conservation area in Bai Tu Long National Park, the tourism zone, the zone with restricted development to serve national defence and security, and the zone with no development. Each zone, with their specific characteristics, has close links with each other to support the development of sea-based tourism and economy while ensuring national defence and security and serving the province’s sustainable development. 

The Overall Plan has made positive impacts on the local tourism sector, helping attract a series of investment projects. Many big investors such as Vingroup, Sun Group, Myway, Tuan Chau and FLC have poured money into tourism infrastructure and entertainment facilities in Quang Ninh.

 

Source: VNA