To expand the space for tourism development and add new tourism products, Quang Ninh province will build more tourist ships to operate on Bai Tu Long Bay as well as develop and improve the quality of the tourist fleet on Ha Long Bay.
According to the draft Plan "Developing and improving the quality of the tourist fleet operating in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay by 2030", by 2030, it is expected that 100% of the number of tourist ships operating in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay will be newly built/replaced with steel hulls or equivalent materials.
Regarding the scale and quantity of tourist ships, high-quality tourist ships will be added, creating new products but not exceeding the total number of tourist ships according to the assessment of tourism capacity in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay for each period. The number of additional tourist ships will be reviewed and announced annually on the basis of not exceeding the announced tourism capacity and in accordance with the waterway traffic infrastructure. In Ha Long Bay, not exceeding 520 ships (excluding discovery yachts). In Bai Tu Long Bay, in the period up to 2025, 100 ships will be added.
For the construction of new tourist ships, ships with a capacity of 200 passengers or more and accommodation ships with double bottoms are encouraged and standards and conditions for technical safety, environmental protection, and high service quality are improved.
Along with that, continue to review investment in ports, passenger wharves, anchorage areas, and inland waterways serving tourism. State agencies strengthen management and improve the effectiveness of tourism management, including the activities of tourist boats in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay.
At the meeting, delegates gave their opinions to clarify the content of developing the fleet in Ha Long Bay and Bai Tu Long Bay in accordance with practical conditions, infrastructure conditions, and the bay's capacity, and to improve the quality of tourism activities.
Quang Ninh will soon announce the carrying capacity of Ha Long Bay, so that on this basis, the Department of Transport can specifically calculate the capacity of the types of ships participating in tourism activities. For Bai Tu Long Bay, based on the existing inland waterway traffic infrastructure, it is agreed that by 2025, 100 additional tourist ships will be added, and the Department of Transport will be assigned to organize an assessment of the bay's carrying capacity to have a direction for long-term development.
The Draft Plan will continue to be consulted with departments, agencies, and sectors, as well as publicly posted to receive comments from tourism and travel businesses... this October before being officially issued.
