The northern province of Quang Ninh will focus on developing tourism as a key economic sector, creating a driving force for the locality’s rapid and substantial socio-economic growth.

Scene at ​a Ha Long Carnaval in Quang Ninh.

The statement was made by Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Long at a ceremony to announce the establishment of the provincial Tourism Department on May 9.

The formation of the department is aimed at building Quang Ninh into the country’s leading tourist centre with modern infrastructure and diverse, unique and competitive products, he said.

It is also in line with the province’s economic development orientation, shifting from a “brown” to a “green” economy, he added.

The chairman urged the department to coordinate with relevant agencies to provide optimal conditions for investors to promptly implementing projects as well as create the best environment for people and businesses to do tourism activities.

Quang Ninh is home to the World Natural Heritage of Ha Long Bay, hundreds of national relic sites and several famous resort cities such as Ha Long, Van Don, and Mong Cai.

The province’s tourism sector has recorded remarkable achievements in the past decade, reflected in surges in the number of tourists arriving in the locality and turnover from the sector.

In 2014, Quang Ninh earned 5.5 trillion VND (247 million USD) from serving 7.5 million visitors, including 2.6 million foreigners.

The province aims to welcome about 10.5 million tourists in 2016.

VNA