Quang Ninh (VNA) – Ha Long city in the northerncoastal province of Quang Ninh has issued a plan on intensifying measures toprotect aquatic resources in Ha Long Bay - a UNESCO-recognised World HeritageSite - during the 2017-2020 period.

The plan aims to strengthen environmental protection,protect and reproduce aquatic resources, and put an end to all fishingactivities in the absolute protection zone in the bay.

It also seeks to raise awareness of obeying the State, QuangNinh province and Ha Long city’s regulations on seafood exploitationactivities.

The plan is expected to be implemented from October 25, 2017to December 2020 in the buffer and absolute protection zones in the bay.

Specifically, patrol is strengthened to detect and punishviolations related to seafood exploitation and protection in coastal areas,especially in Ha Long and Bai Tu Long bays and banned fishing areas.

Vehicles without registration, and violated fishing toolswill be seized or destroyed.

Additionally, under the plan, a survey will be conducted todefine the number of fishermen working in Ha Long Bay to report to theprovincial People’s Committee to support them change jobs if necessary.

Fishermen and owners of fishing boats are requested tocommit to strictly following regulations on aquatic resources protection, notusing banned fishing vehicles and tools, not conducting fishing in prohibitedareas.

These moves are to aquatic resources and also the landscapeof the world heritage site.

With high per capita income and an increasingly synchronisedinfrastructure system, the tourism hub of Ha Long city has become an attractiveinvestment destination for many real estate and resort investors.

With Ha Long Bay - one of the seven natural masterpieces of the world, the cityis a must-go place for those who spend holidays in Vietnam, in particular QuangNinh province.

Ha Long Bay is prioritised to develop into national tourism sites. Itwelcomed 6.3 million tourists and grossed 7.7 trillion VND (over 338 millionUSD) in revenue, representing respective increases of 14 percent and 65 percentfrom the previous year. Of the visitors, about 2.7 million were foreigners, ayear-on-year growth of 16 percent. 

Quang Ninh has a coastline of more than 250 kilometres andover 2,000 islands and islets which account for two-thirds of the total numberin Vietnam.

Under a plan for tourism development in Quang Ninh, theprovince hopes to become an international tourism centre and a leading tourismdestination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and diverse, competitivetourism products. 

By 2020, Quang Ninh aims to welcome 15-16 million tourists, including sevenmillion foreigners, and rake in 30trillion VND - 40 trillion VND (1.3-1.7billion USD) in revenue. The tourism sector is expected to contribute 14-15percent to the gross regional domestic product. 

In 2016, Quang Ninh welcomed 8.3 million tourist arrivals, a year-on-yearincrease of seven percent, and earned over 13 trillion VND (571 million USD) inrevenue, up 23 percent, according to the Quang Ninh Department ofTourism. -VNA