The Ly Son Special Economic Zone in Quang Ngai province has long been known as a " tourism paradise" in the East Sea. Possessing million-year-old volcanic landscapes, a rich marine ecosystem, and a long history and culture linked to the Hoang Sa and Bac Hai patrols, Ly Son is both an attractive tourist destination and holds strategic significance for national defense and security.
A new boost for the special economic zone.
Ly Son Island is located 15 nautical miles from the mainland. Tourists mainly travel to Ly Son by speedboat from Sa Ky port, which takes just over an hour. Although not too far, this journey is highly dependent on the weather. During windy seasons and rough seas, boats often have to cease operations, significantly reducing the number of tourists. Access to and from the mainland for residents is also hampered. This is considered one of the biggest "bottlenecks" limiting the island's tourism development potential.
In this context, the Ly Son airport project – part of the transportation infrastructure plan for Quang Ngai and the central coastal region – is attracting particular attention.
Recently, following a meeting with the Standing Committee of the Quang Ngai Provincial Party Committee on February 9th, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed in principle to add and update Ly Son Airport to the National Airport System Master Plan for the period 2021-2030, with a vision to 2050.
Tourists traveling to Ly Son by sea often face disruptions during the rainy and stormy season.
In a previous submission to the Government, the People's Committee of Quang Ngai province proposed the construction of a dual-use military and civilian airport of level 4C in Ly Son, with an operating capacity of 3-3.5 million passengers per year. To concretize the goal of achieving Type V urban status by 2025 and Type III by 2040, the Ly Son Special Economic Zone has set the goal of including the Ly Son airport project in the list of national special projects, prioritizing investment in two phases: 2026-2030 and 2031-2035.
Quang Ngai province hopes that Ly Son airport will become a driving force for the special economic zone to assert its pivotal role in all three pillars: economy, tourism, and national defense and security.
For the tourism industry, the opening of the airport is a major boost. Currently, international tourists wishing to visit Ly Son Island usually have to fly to Da Nang or Chu Lai, then travel by road for about 2-3 hours before reaching Sa Ky port to continue their journey by boat. This process is time-consuming and can easily reduce the island's attractiveness compared to destinations with more convenient infrastructure. Conversely, if direct flights or quick connecting flights are available, Ly Son Island will become more accessible and convenient than ever before.
It can be said that aviation infrastructure will help Ly Son tourism transform from a stage of small-scale, individual exploration to a stage of systematic, large-scale development targeting the international market.
We need to build our own unique identity.
However, having a new airport is only a necessary condition. For tourism in Ly Son to truly "take off," many other issues need to be addressed simultaneously.
First and foremost is the service infrastructure. Currently, the island mainly has mid-range guesthouses and hotels, and some homestays catering to young tourists, but there are no high-end resorts or luxury hotels. Therefore, planning and attracting investment in high-quality accommodation facilities is essential.
In addition, transportation, electricity, water, and waste treatment systems also need to be invested in comprehensively. A rapid increase in tourists without adequate environmental infrastructure will lead to overload, pollution, and negative impacts on the island's highly sensitive ecosystem. Lessons from many other coastal tourist destinations show that without a focus on sustainable development, short-term gains can come at the cost of long-term damage.
Another key factor is human resources. The people of Ly Son mainly live by fishing and garlic farming, and have little experience in professional tourism and service industries. Therefore, it is necessary to quickly implement training programs in foreign languages, service skills, and tourism management for the local people, while encouraging their participation in community-based tourism development.
Furthermore, to differentiate itself, Ly Son needs to build a tourism brand based on its unique volcanic geological values, Hoang Sa culture, and distinctive garlic agricultural products. These are "unique assets" that no other place can replicate. If properly exploited and combined with effective promotion, Ly Son could completely become a "second Phu Quoc" of Central Vietnam, but with its own distinct character.
From a broader perspective, the development of Ly Son Airport also contributes to improving social welfare. Island residents will have easier access to healthcare, education, and employment. Emergency cases can be quickly transported to major hospitals by air.
The airport on the strategically important island will also support air and maritime patrol and control operations, enhancing the ability to respond quickly in emergency situations. This is a strategic element, closely linking economic and tourism development with the task of protecting the sovereignty of the nation's maritime territories and islands.
The aspiration is to become a center for coastal and island tourism.
Mr. Nguyen Minh Tri, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Ly Son Special Economic Zone, acknowledged that tourism and services are gradually asserting their role as the leading economic sector of Ly Son. "Ly Son has a 1/2,000 scale planning map, and currently, tourism accounts for 50% of the island's total production value. In the coming time, the Ly Son Special Economic Zone will focus on implementing comprehensive solutions to soon transform Ly Son into a center for island and coastal tourism in accordance with Resolution No. 26-NQ/TW of the Politburo… I believe that with the airport, the proportion of tourism and services in Ly Son will increase rapidly, the lives of the people will become more prosperous, and Ly Son will develop further," Mr. Tri expressed.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/ly-son-truc-co-hoi-cat-canh-196250920193131357.htm
Comment (0)