Vice Chairwoman of the Quang Ninh People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy has requested authorities of Ha Long city to finalize measures to manage sport services on Ha Long Bay and report to the committee later this month.

Kayaking, popular sport activity, on Ha Long Bay

She made the request at a meeting with the local authorities in the northern province of Quang Ninh on April 13.

Sport activities on Ha Long Bay, including kayaking, are created to serve the increasing demand of tourists, she said, adding that it is necessary to devise management plans to ensure safety for visitors and promote the world natural heritage site’s values.

On March 29, the Ha Long City’s People Committee announced that kayaking service on Ha Long Bay would be halted from April 1 due to safety concerns.

The sudden halt of such unique tourism service and its reason received strong objections from the public and travel businesses.

On April 5, the provincial People’s Committee directed the People’s Committee of Ha Long city to promptly build management plans of sports activities on the bay, determining which areas are safe for tourists.

On April 11, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism asked the authorties of Quang Ninh to consider effective management measures and enable businesses to continue providing the kayaking services on the bay.

The ministry said kayaking is an attractive entertainment form for both domestic and international tourists.

Kayaking has been served on Ha Long bay for years. There are about 1,400 kayaks operating on the bay.

Ha Long Bay, which spans 1,553 square kilometres and includes nearly 2,000 islands of various sizes, was twice recognised by the UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1994 and 2000. In 2011, it was voted one of the seven New Natural Wonders of the World.   

The bay is an iconic destination for visitors to Quang Ninh, with rich biodiversity, stunning beauty, and significant historical and cultural values.

In 2016, Ha Long welcomed 6.3 million tourists and earned 7.7 trillion VND (over 338 million USD) in revenue, respective increases of 14 percent and 65 percent from the previous year. About 2.7 million of the visitors were foreigners, a year-on-year growth of 16 percent. 

VNA