On September 16, the World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)  recognized the Ha Long Bay - Cat Ba archipelago as a world natural heritage. This is the first time Vietnam has a natural heritage spanning two localities, with no precedent for joint management and exploitation. Some businesses reflect that there are still problems in management between Quang Ninh and Hai Phong related to HaLong Bay and Lan Ha Bay (Cat Ba), causing difficulties for cruise ships and tourists for many years.

Vice Chairman of Hai Phong City People's Committee Le Khac Nam said the two localities had had certain cooperation in managing and exploiting tourism in the Ha Long - Cat Ba archipelago before it was recognized as a natural heritage world. Mr. Nam said that the consensus between Hai Phong and Quang Ninh is the key for UNESCO to approve the application to recognize the Ha Long - Cat Ba Archipelago as a world natural heritage.

"They intended to return the documents because in a number of surveys we did not see good coordination between the two localities. However, I and Ms. (Nguyen Thi) Hanh, Vice President of Quang Ninh province, issued documents, proving that the two localities are linked together in terms of security, tourism, and landscape protection," Mr. Nam said.

Specifically, in 2021 the delegation of Hai Phong City People's Committee worked with Quang Ninh Provincial People's Committee on tourism activities and world heritage nomination dossier. The two sides have signed agreements to coordinate to ensure security and order, environment, transportation, tourism, and develop regulations to coordinate the protection of the marine environment in the border area between Ha Long Bay and Lan Ha Bay. The issue of general entrance fees was also mentioned at that time, but it was only a proposal and not discussed specifically.

Associate Professor Dr. Pham Hong Long, Dean of the Department of Tourism Studies at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said that in Vietnam there is no precedent for a world heritage site located in two localities, so the management model is still a question.

"If there is no common management board, competition and conflict are inevitable. I envision many shortcomings, from extending the separation to competing for destinations," he said and emphasized. A world heritage complex with two management boards is "unacceptable".

Mr. Nguyen The Hue, Chairman of Quang Ninh Provincial Tourism Association, evaluated the expanded heritage space as "a wonderful thing". However, the current necessary thing is to create a balance between the Ha Long and Cat Ba archipelagos.

“Ha Long Bay has been recognized as a heritage site since 1994. The scale of tourism, the way of management through many stages, and the way of exploitation are very familiar with a solid foundation. Cat Ba is really not like that. The provincial government needs to unite to avoid conflicts and unfair competition," Mr. Hue said

When asked to comment on the management and exploitation of the Ha Long - Cat Ba Archipelago, Mr. Pham Hai Quynh, Director of the Asian Tourism Development Institute (ATI) said that "Imbalance" is also a risk. According to Mr. Quynh, the two areas are located next to each other and have similar values. From the perspective of customers or travel agencies, between two locations with similar services, they will choose the one with cheaper costs.

"This issue creates an imbalance and fairness in activities in Ha Long and Cat Ba. I hope that both sides will have a common agreement for activities in Ha Long and Lan Ha (connecting Cat Ba with Ha Long)", Mr. Quynh said.

According to Hai Phong Vice President Le Khac Nam, the fee collection rate in Cat Ba is lower than Ha Long. Specifically, the entrance fee at Lan Ha Bay in the Cat Ba archipelago ranges from 50,000 VND to 80,000 VND per adult, while in HaLong Bay it is 290,000 VND per person. The overnight fee on Lan Ha Bay is from 250,000 VND to 500,000 VND, in HaLong Bay it is 550,000 VND to 750,000 VND per person.

For Hai Phong, the immediate work is to continue improving the quality of the fleet and yards, and to rebuild tourism products in the heritage area. The fleet in Hai Phong will have to be built at least 3 stars or higher and must build an anchorage area for large ships because Beo wharf and Gia Luan wharf both have limitations.

"Because it is a common heritage area, the quality and cost also need to be equal," Mr. Le Khac Nam said.

Vice Chairman of Hai Phong also added that in the coming time, Hai Phong side will continue to discuss with Quang Ninh side, "agreeing on more common issues such as sightseeing tours, common information channels, and measures." Protecting the marine environment and biodiversity in the heritage core zone".

Mr. Phan Dinh Hue, destination development expert, said that tourists see Cat Ba archipelago and Ha Long Bay as a large island tourist area. The things that tourists want is to "travel more, view more", they do not care which this bay or that island belongs to. Mr. Hue said it is necessary to soon have a regional destination development center to build a common brand and avoid duplication in product development.

Associate Professor, Dr. Pham Hong Long expressed a desire for the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to involve and establish a common destination development model for both Ha Long and Cat Ba, not allowing each side to develop in its own way.

Mr. Pham Ha, owner of Heritage Cruises, a member of the Lan Ha Cruise Ship Association, said that in addition to unifying and improving tourism products, the two localities need to pay attention to conservation issues. "Heritage in Ha Long - Cat Ba is not only natural landscape, biodiversity but also people and culture. Fishing villages need to promote their value and be preserved, not abolished and brought all the people up. "We should even restore a fleet of red sailboats as a brand," Mr. Ha suggested.

Also according to Mr. Ha, the method of managing and exploiting tourism also needs to change in the age of technology. "It is not necessary to know where the train picks up passengers, but only needs to determine where they are visiting through the navigation system to collect fees. Besides, the most necessary thing is tours that connect two localities need to increase vacation time to retain tourists for 5 to 7 days," Mr. Ha said.

Source: VNexpess News