As the COVID-19 pandemic has been basically controlled, the northern province of Quang Ninh has implemented a series of tourism stimulus policies in a short period of time to soon unfreeze resources and revive the economy.

The number of visitors to Ha Long Bay (Quang Ninh province)
increases sharply on the weekends in May

By the end of May 2020, Quang Ninh’s index of industrial production (IIP) rose by 2.04% compared to April and 5.62% over the same period last year. 

Around 9.2 million tons of goods underwent customs clearance at local ports, up 18% year-on-year, while commercial port fees and charges reached VND52.7 billion (US$2.27 million), representing a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. 

Aquaculture production was estimated at more than 11,800 tons, up 5.4% compared to the same period in 2019.

The province’s state budget revenue reached over VND20.3 trillion (US$874.69 million), equal to 42% of the year’s estimate, with domestic revenue meeting 41% of the estimate, at over VND15.1 trillion (US$650.68 million). 

The rate of disbursement was 18.7% (VND39 billion out of VND208 billion) concerning capital for new rural development, and more than 20% (VND71.9 billion out of VND353 billion) regarding capital under Program 135.

Especially, immediately after the Resolution No. 256 was issued, Quang Ninh’s tourism industry has promptly shown signs of bouncing back. 

Together with the VND200 billion (US$8.62 million) tourism stimulus package for 2020 that has already proven effective, local travel companies have simultaneously discounted prices of their services and launched many new tourism products.

In May, tourist arrivals to Quang Ninh reached 346,000, of which domestic arrivals were about 331,000, accounting for 96% of the total and equaling 72.7% over the same period in 2019.

Regarding the five-month period, the province served over 1.84 million arrivals of visitors, raking in revenue of more than VND3.422 trillion (US$147.52 million). Although the figures decreased significantly compared to the same period last year, those were the signs showing that Quang Ninh’s tourism industry is gradually bouncing back after the pandemic. 

It is predicted that tourist arrivals to the province will continue to rise sharply in June, mainly domestic visitors.

At a recent regular meeting for May 2020, Chairman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Van Thang affirmed that Quang Ninh and the whole country have now moved on to a new stage in epidemic prevention and control. 

He stressed the urgent need to effectively control the disease and maintain safety in the locality, as well as drastically boosting socio-economic development to regain the growth momentum./.