Heritage tourism in Quang Ninh

According to experts, heritage economy is not a new concept or type of economy in the world, in which heritage-cultural tourism is the most specific manifestation. Thus, with the policy of developing tourism into a spearhead economic sector, Quang Ninh has developed heritage economy early since more than ten years ago.

In order for the tourism industry to maximize its potential and advantages, create unique tourism products; link tourism development with the preservation and promotion of national cultural values and identities, on May 24, 2013, the Executive Committee of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee issued Resolution No. 07-NQ/TU "On the development of Quang Ninh tourism in the period 2013 - 2020, with a vision to 2030", in which it determined to develop the province's tourism in a sustainable, professional, modern, effective, focused and key direction, so that tourism becomes a key economic sector; contribute significantly to implementing 3 strategic breakthroughs associated with the growth model, restructuring the economy, and transforming the development method from "brown" to "green".

Thanks to that, in the period 2015 - 2020, Quang Ninh 's economic growth rate remained high compared to the national average, reaching 10.8%. The economic scale increased rapidly, reaching 220,298 billion VND in 2020, 1.93 times higher than in 2015. State budget revenue for 5 years (2015 - 2020) reached over 212,200 billion VND, an increase of 29% compared to the period 2011-2015, of which domestic revenue reached over 155,000 billion VND, an increase of 88% compared to the period 2011-2015, import-export revenue reached over 57,200 billion VND, exceeding the central target by 43%. The total number of tourists to Quang Ninh has continuously increased over the years. In the period 2015 - 2019, Quang Ninh welcomed 52.239 million visitors; of which international visitors reached 21.521 million.

Mr. Nguyen Trung Khanh, Director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, assessed: “The highlight of Quang Ninh's economic development during this period is that it has oriented and developed the service industry, tourism has increasingly become a spearhead economic sector, actively contributing to socio-economic development and promoting economic restructuring. The synchronous and modern infrastructure and technical facilities of tourism have created a lever for tourism to develop strongly. In addition, the province has directed the promotion of state management of tourism, from the construction, management and implementation of tourism planning to inspection and examination activities to ensure a healthy tourism business environment; training and development of tourism human resources have been strengthened.”

Tien Cong Festival (Quang Yen Town) is a national intangible cultural heritage. Every year, the festival attracts a large number of locals and tourists. *Photo: Minh Duc*

Heritage economy through the exploitation of cultural and natural heritages to create value, including activities such as: cultural tourism, handicrafts, development of services associated with heritage, heritage conservation. Based on the unified viewpoint of promoting the values of the festival system - one of the valuable cultural resources for local socio-economic development, in recent times, Quang Ninh province has taken many practical actions to both preserve and restore traditional festivals and develop new cultural festivals with their own brands, building them into unique cultural products, attracting a large number of domestic and international tourists.

Resolution 17-NQ/TU dated October 30, 2023 of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee "On building and promoting cultural values and human strength of Quang Ninh to become endogenous resources and driving forces for rapid and sustainable development" identifies nature, culture and people as three pillars for sustainable development. Therefore, in recent times, Quang Ninh province has issued many policies and plans, allocating adequate resources commensurate with the province's budget revenue for cultural investment with 4,759 billion VND in the period of 2018 - 2022.

The province also emphasized the need to continue to restore and preserve traditional festivals; organize cultural days and cultural and sports weeks for ethnic groups in the Northeast region; preserve, promote and introduce traditional culture, unique architecture and cultural spaces in the community activities of ethnic minorities. In 2024, Quang Ninh province chose the annual working theme as "Improving the quality of economic growth; developing culture and people rich in Quang Ninh identity", continuing to mobilize the active and determined participation of Party committees, authorities and people at all levels in preserving, fostering and promoting cultural values,

Thanks to that, in 2024, Quang Ninh will reach the target of welcoming over 19 million tourists, the highest number of visitors in history. In 2025, the province aims to welcome 20 million visitors, including 4.5 million international visitors. In the orientation of becoming a national and international tourism center, Quang Ninh needs to continue to promote the economic exploitation of heritage in the direction of conservation going hand in hand with development; to develop, create motivation and resources for conservation and sustainable promotion of heritage values.

Dr. Hoang Dao Cuong, Deputy Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, suggested: “To develop the heritage economy, Quang Ninh needs to focus on the quality of growth and professionalism of human resources in the cultural and tourism sectors, encourage regional and local linkages in tourism development associated with green and sustainable development according to the motto “taking the experience of tourists as the center”.

Source