Quang Ninh’s tourism looks to become economic spearhead

The signing of a cooperation agreement between Quang Ninh province and an enterprise (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – The northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has set a goal of welcoming 15-16 million visitors, including 7 million foreigners, in 2020.

The locality aims to turn tourism into a spearhead economic sector, creating a driving force for its socio-economic development, towards becoming one of the leading localities in tourism development in the country.

Speaking at a tourism promotion conference in Ho Chi Minh City on November 27, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy stressed that Quang Ninh boasts many natural resources for tourism development, but it has not fully tapped the existing potential.

The local authorities have been constantly making efforts to call for investment in tourism, thus further develop the sector, Thuy said.

On the other hand, the locality is accelerating economic restructuring from mining to services, including tourism. It sets to welcome about 14 million tourists, including 6 million international visitors, in 2019.

It also aims to welcome 30 million tourists, with half of them being foreigners, in 2030.

Quang Ninh completed the Tourism Development Master Plan to 2020, with a vision to 2030 consulted by BCG Consulting Group of the US in 2014, which proposed breakthrough ideas to address big obstacles facing the province.

The master plan focuses on solving seven issues to promote tourism development in four key areas in Quang Ninh, while proposing eight groups of solutions to implement the plan.

Cruise ships take visitors to Ha Long Bay (Photo: VNA)

Strategic planning on transport infrastructure

To promote sustainable and modern tourism development, the local authorities have paid attention to attracting investment in developing tourism infrastructure and training human resources, a well as devising management policies to well address issues arising during the locality’s tourism development scheme.

Director of the provincial Department of Tourism Pham Ngoc Thuy said the province lured a series of new investment projects, with many of them for developing transport infrastructure.

Key transport projects are a road connecting the Tran Dynasty Special Relic Site in Dong Trieu district with the Yen Tu historical relic site; the Hai Phong – Ha Long expressway; projects to expand and upgrade Highway 18’s Uong Bi-Bac Ninh and Ha Long-Mong Duong sections; the Van Don Airport and infrastructure projects in the Van Don economic zone.

Especially, the Ha Long-Hai Phong and Ha Long-Van Don expressways, and the project expand and upgrade Highway 18’s Ha Long-Mong Duong section, were implemented under the form of public-private partnership.

Quang Ninh is currently investing in a number of key projects such as the road along coast of Ha Long - Cam Pha.

The locality will invest in constructing a tunnel through Cua Luc bay and a system of bridges to connect Ha Long city with Hoanh Bo district.

The improvement of transport infrastructure has served as a premise for many businesses to invest in large projects in Quang Ninh, contributing to diversifying tourism products such as Vinpearl Ha Long high-class resort at Reu island in Bai Chay; Tuan Chau international port; Cable car project and tourist area at Ngam Van-Ho Thien pagoda cultural and historical relic complex in Dong Trieu district; Ha Long Ocean Park project; Ben Doan high-class service area in Ha Long city; Quang Hanh high-class hot mineral water resort in Cam Pha city; FLC Ha Long Resort; and Sheraton Ha Long Hotel.

The province has 1,379 tourist accommodation establishments with 25,488 rooms, including 60 hotels of three stars or higher.

Attracting strategic investors

The presence of strategic investors has changed the face of Quang Ninh in terms of infrastructure and services, Thuy said, adding that businesses play an important role in investing in upgrading tourism infrastructure facilities.

Quang Ninh has created a favourable business environment which will help businesses to further develop, he said.

Thuy noted that the number of accommodation establishments has increased rapidly thanks investment flows from larges businesses such as Vingroup, Sun Group, BIMGroup, FLC, Tuan Chau Group, and CEO.

The number of tourists to Quang Ninh has also skyrocketed, with new waves of visitors from many countries and territories around the world such as Japan, Hong Kong (China), the UK, France, Germany and the US.

Improving State management efficiency for tourism development

Quang Ninh has simultaneously implemented 56 solutions and sub-projects to promote tourism development in the period to 2020, with vision to 2030.

Attention has been paid to creating high-quality and world-class tourism products and services, diversifying tourist markets, improving State management in tourism development, and developing international-standard human resources serving the sector.

Resources have been concentrated on building areas critical for tourism development such as Ha Long city, Van Don and Mong Cai economic zones.

Many localities have made detailed planning of tourist regions and areas, tourism development schemes, while strengthening State management in the sector.

The State management has seen positive changes, contributing to improving the tourism business environment in the province./.