Fortunately, all passengers and crew members were safely evacuated and their health was stable.
But for a world-class destination, a boat fire incident is not just a simple waterway traffic accident, but also the reputation of a tourism brand.
Ha Long Bay is a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, welcoming millions of domestic and foreign visitors every year. Tourists come here not only to admire the majestic scenery, but also to expect professional and absolutely safe services.
An incident in the bay can spread very quickly on international media and social networks, directly affecting the image of the destination.
Doing high-quality tourism does not stop at luxurious rooms, rich cuisine or attractive journeys.
The core factor is safety.
No one wants to get on a ship that still carries in their mind the worry of fire and explosion, technical problems or lack of emergency response plans.
This incident shows that the on-site response of the captain and crew members is very important. However, prevention must always be put before handling.
Registration, maintenance of machinery, electrical systems, fire prevention and fighting equipment, escape skills training for crew members and safety guidance for tourists need to be carried out strictly, regularly and practically.
With the characteristics of overnight ships and high-class ships operating densely in the bay, any technical errors are potentially high risks.
Functional agencies need to comprehensively review the tourist ship fleet, from the quality of new construction and renovation, to operating procedures and personnel standards. It is impossible to let the situation of "meeting standards on paper" but in reality hiding risks.
International tourists when choosing destinations often carefully consider security and safety factors. A place that is highly rated for safety will have a sustainable competitive advantage over any advertising campaign.
From the perspective of state management, after investigating and clarifying the cause of the fire, it is necessary to publicize transparent information and strictly handle violations of regulations on maritime safety and fire prevention and fighting.
Strictness is not aimed at making it difficult for businesses, but to protect the business itself and the common brand of the destination.
Beautiful scenery is a gift of nature, services are products of people. But in modern tourism, safety is the "specialty" that attracts tourists.
When tourists board the ship with absolute peace of mind, that is when Ha Long Bay truly shines on the world tourism map.
