The northern port city of Hai Phong is striving to make tourism a spearhead economic sector and turn itself into one of the nation’s key tourism destinations.
According to the municipal People’s Committee’s action programme on tourism development from 2017 – 2020 with a vision through 2030, the city hopes to receive 8 million tourists and earn 3.5 trillion VND (154 million USD) with expected annual average growth rates of 8.2 percent and 8.9 percent, respectively.
The city has invested in and brought into use an international wharf and developed Cat Ba island into a national tourism destination with smart and environmentally-friendly ecotourism models.
By 2025, Ha Long Bay-Cat Ba island complex is hoped to be recognised by UNESCO as the world’s natural heritage while Cat Ba island will become an international tourism destination, and Do Son district a national tourism area.
By 2030, Hai Phong aims to become a national tourism hub, with Do Son district and Cat Ba island able to compete with regional and international tourism sites.
To that end, Hai Phong has focused efforts to raise the awareness among local authorities, sectors and people of the importance of tourism development. The tourism sector will also be restructured to ensure sustainable development in the market-oriented economy and international integration.
Favourable policies will be developed to support tourism investment and development.
According to Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Khac Nam, relevant bodies have been assigned with specific tasks in implementing the targets under the action programme.
Over the past three years, Hai Phong has gained positive achievements in tourism development thanks to its potentials and favourable traffic infrastructure.
In the first ten months this year, the city received nearly 5.7 million visitors, up 14.4 percent year on year.