30 years of Ha Long Bay being honored as a World Natural Heritage

The 30th anniversary celebration of Ha Long Bay being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage was just held solemnly and meaningfully.

Delegates attending the ceremony - Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper

On the evening of December 14, in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province held a ceremony to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Ha Long Bay being recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage (1994-2024). At the ceremony, delegates reviewed the 30-year journey of managing, preserving and sustainably promoting the values of Ha Long Bay, while continuing to honor and spread the outstanding global values of the heritage. Over the past 30 years, Quang Ninh has always been aware of the highest responsibility, with many effective solutions to preserve, maintain, embellish and promote the values of the world heritage, fully implementing the International Convention on the Protection of World Heritage. In 1995, Quang Ninh Province established the Ha Long Bay Management Board as the specialized agency in charge of managing Ha Long Bay heritage. Along with that, the province has issued many specialized resolutions, mechanisms, policies, and regulations on the management, conservation, and promotion of heritage values, especially in the key areas of environmental protection, biodiversity, research, and application of science and technology in heritage management, management of the tourism business environment, and tourism product development... Propaganda and raising public awareness of heritage protection and preservation have been focused on and strengthened.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, spoke at the ceremony - Photo: Quang Ninh Newspaper

Speaking at the ceremony, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hanh, Vice Chairwoman of Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee, said that after 30 years since being recognized by UNESCO, Ha Long Bay now has a new look, the outstanding global values of the heritage are preserved intact, and its potential strengths are promoted. The apparatus, mechanisms and policies in heritage management and protection have been gradually consolidated and improved, creating a solid foundation for the strategy of preserving and promoting the value of Ha Long Bay in a comprehensive and sustainable manner. Ha Long Bay is increasingly becoming an attractive destination, attracting domestic and international tourists, truly becoming a famous brand of tourism in Quang Ninh, Vietnam and the world. Since 1996, there have been over 57 million visitors to the bay, with entrance fees reaching over VND 8,600 billion. Thereby, contributing to the socio -economic development of Quang Ninh province. Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Dao Cuong acknowledged and highly appreciated the achievements and efforts in managing, preserving and promoting Ha Long Bay heritage that Quang Ninh province has achieved over the past 30 years. In the current context, when the world is facing major challenges such as climate change, environmental pollution, pressure from economic development, especially pressure from increased tourism, preserving and promoting heritage values requires us to continue to make efforts, be creative and unite. According to Mr. Cuong, Quang Ninh needs to continue to do a good job of forecasting, evaluating, correctly identifying the situation, determining the position, role, distinct potential, outstanding opportunities, competitive advantages and challenges in management. At the same time, be proactive and creative in mobilizing resources, seeking the support of ministries, departments, branches, domestic and international experts to continue to have appropriate policies and actions in the management, conservation and sustainable development of heritage. Promote the transformation of development methods from "brown" to "green" by applying science and technology, digital transformation, increasing the economic value of heritage, developing cultural industries in a professional, modern, creative and highly competitive direction.

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/30-nam-vinh-ha-long-duoc-vinh-danh-di-san-thien-nhien-the-gioi-20241215092130179