Halong city to become a tourism hub
Ha Noi, Feb. 3 (VNA) -- A Government decision will make Ha Long city in the northern border province of Quang Ninh a tourism, transport and commercial hub for the northern region with the maintaining its status as the major supplier of coal to the entire country.
Average yearly economic growth of between 16 and 17 percent and a yearly USD 2,000 per capita share of Gross Domestic Product from now to 2010 are part of the plans for the city.
Ha Long will accelerate coal exploitation, bringing the city's yearly coal production to more than 2 million tonnes to meet its target.
It will also develop ship building, the production of construction materials, agro-forestry and seafood processing as well as building new concentrated industrial clusters, including the Cai Lan, and the Le Loi and Hoang Bo high-tech zones.
To enhance its standing as an international tourist destination, Ha Long will open direct routes to the islands of Ha Long Bay, develop eco-tourism and mountain climbing, restore and preserve relics and the landscapes and build entertainment facilities for more than 2 million tourists a year.
The city will combine develoment of the Ha Long-Bai Chay route with the Ha Long-Mong Cai and Ha Long-Yen Tu routes to form a major tourism and sports complex.
Ha Long Bay was recognized as a world heritage site by the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization six years ago. The city covers 1,500 sq. km with more than 2,000 limestone islands and very beautiful landscapes.
It attracts one-third of the country's international tourists and has contributed heavily to Quang Ninh province's 37 percent yearly growth in tourism since 1990.
Ha Long has attended to building and upgrading its communication network to boost economic development in the province in addition to developing coal mining and tourism.
It will upgrade highway 18A through the city; build the Bai Chay and Lang Bang bridges and roads to Tuan Chau island and increase Cai Lan Port's yearly cargo capacity to 2.7 million tonnes rising to 17 million tonnes by 2010.
Ha Long will also relocate the coal industry's facilities, including storage, away from the city and upgrade and expand water supply and drainage, electricity supply and build administrative areas, residential quarters, commercial and export centres.--VNA
