Quang Ninh: Van Don international airport to be operational in April 2018
Quang Ninh (VNA) – The northern province of Quang Ninh has directed departments and investors to open air routes for Van Don international airport, which is expected to be put into operation in April 2018.
The provincial People’s
Committee directed the Department of Transport to work with the Van Don
Investment and Development Joint Stock Company to complete procedures on
planning and investment for the airport while ensuring it is put into operation
before April 1, 2018.
The committee asked the Department of Tourism to
collaborate with the Van Don Investment and Development JSC to build plans for
market-launching activities to open air routes for the airport, then report to
the committee by the end of October.
Quang Ninh also proposed Sun Group and Van Don
Investment and Development JSC finalise investment and legal procedures to
operate the airport and contact with airlines like Vietnam Airlines and Vietjet
Air to ask for support.
The two companies were requested to propose
preferential policies for airlines and passengers to encourage the launch of
air routes to Van Don international airport.
The construction of the Quang Ninh airport began
in 2015 under the build-operate-transfer form with total investment of nearly
7.5 trillion VND (330 million USD) by Sun Group. Quang Ninh province also
invested 700 billion VND (30.8 million USD) for land clearance.
So far, a 3.6km runway has been completed. Sun
Group is also constructing other facilities, including a terminal and air
traffic control tower.
The
northern province of Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres and
some 2,000 islets which account for two-thirds of the total in Vietnam.
The
spectacular stretch of coast connects the UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site
of Ha Long Bay with majestic natural scenery, Bai Tu Long Bay, Van Don and Co
To islands and Tra Co beach with Cat Ba National Park in the northern port city
of Hai Phong.
Along with
the renowned Ha Long Bay, Quan Lan, Minh Chau, Ngoc Vung, Dai beaches in Van
Don island district and Tra Co and Vinh Thuc in Mong Cai city have grown in
stature among tourists thanks to their breathtaking seas and coral reefs.
Under a
plan for tourism development in Quang Ninh, the province hopes to become an
international tourism centre and a leading tourism destination in Vietnam with
modern infrastructure and diverse, competitive tourism products.
In 2016, Quang
Ninh welcomed 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-year increase of seven
percent, and earned over 13 trillion VND (571 million USD) in revenue, up 23
percent, according to the Quang Ninh Department of Tourism.-VNA