Ha Long Bay (Source: VNA)

Ha Long city in the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh has issued a plan on intensifying measures to protect aquatic resources in Ha Long Bay - a UNESCO-recognised World Heritage Site - during the 2017-2020 period.

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

It also seeks to raise awareness of obeying the State, Quang Ninh province and Ha Long city’s regulations on seafood exploitation activities.

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

Specifically, patrol is strengthened to detect and punish violations 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 tools will be seized or destroyed.

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

Fishermen and owners of fishing boats are requested to commit to strictly following regulations on aquatic resources protection, not using banned fishing vehicles and tools, not conducting fishing in prohibited areas.

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

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

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

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

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

Under a plan for tourism development in Quang Ninh, the province hopes to become an international tourism centre and a leading tourism destination in Vietnam with modern infrastructure and diverse, competitive tourism products.

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

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