Labor had an interview with Mr. Vu Kien Cuong, Head of Ha Long Bay Management Board about this content.
Sir, over the past 30 years, Quang Ninh has made great efforts in protecting the landscape as well as heritage values. Could you share more specifically about some outstanding results in this work?
- After 30 years with many ups and downs, we evaluate and summarize some outstanding results as follows:
Firstly, we have made great efforts to perfect institutions, regulations and statutes to best manage and protect heritage.
Second, we have completed the organizational structure to carry out the task of heritage management, directly under the Ha Long Bay Management Board. From only having more than 10 cadres, civil servants and employees when established in 1995, the Management Board now has more than 300 cadres, civil servants and employees performing the tasks of heritage management, protection and promotion.
Third, we have spread the value of heritage so that organizations, individuals, and even the whole community can raise awareness and responsibility in preserving, protecting, and promoting the value of heritage.
However, besides the results achieved, we must also frankly admit that we have not had many innovations and have not yet exploited to the maximum the other very special values of Ha Long Bay. Currently, in our assessment, Ha Long Bay has only exploited about 10 - 20% of the values as well as tourism resources.
- So, in your opinion, what do we need to do in the coming time to remove these bottlenecks and exploit Ha Long Bay commensurate with the potential of the heritage bay?
- Currently, the Ha Long Bay Management Board is coordinating with relevant departments, branches and localities to advise the Provincial Party Committee, People's Council and People's Committee of Quang Ninh province to seriously assess, review and research the resources that we are currently neglecting in the bay.
In the immediate future, we are researching to upgrade existing tourism products. At the same time, we will research and develop new tourism products in the direction of selecting high-class tourism products to serve high-end customers.
In January 2025, it is expected that there will be about 200 billionaire tourists coming to Ha Long Bay. They are setting very strict requirements for experiences.
Currently, the Bay Management Board, the Department of Tourism and related sectors and units have surveyed and identified two locations that meet the criteria: Ban Chan and Cat Oan sandbanks, in addition to overnight accommodation areas in Cong Do and Tra San. This is also a trial activity, and in the future, investment will be made in infrastructure, safety conditions for waterways, etc. to expand the product.
- What tasks does the expansion of the world heritage boundary of Ha Long Bay of Quang Ninh province and Cat Ba archipelago of Hai Phong city pose in the coordination management work, sir?
Currently, the two localities of Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city are coordinating to build the first inter-provincial heritage management regulations in Vietnam. In fact, we have also invited and consulted UNESCO experts, thereby proactively advising the People's Committees of Quang Ninh province and Hai Phong city to issue a common management regulation, and request the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to review it.
We have also coordinated with agencies in Hai Phong city to propose to UNESCO to consider and make minor adjustments to the boundaries of the heritage buffer zone as a legal basis for developing other socio-economic projects that do not conflict with UNESCO's recommendations on conservation, from the perspective that conservation work must be given top priority.
- Thank you for the conversation!
