Decision No. 91/2008/QD-BVHTTDL of December 30, 2008, approving the master plan on tourism development in the northern midland and mountainous region up to 2020.

DECISION

APPROVING THE MASTER PLAN ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN THE NORTHERN MIDLAND AND MOUNTAINOUS REGION UP TO 2020

THE MINISTER OF CULTURE. SPORTS AND TOURISM

Pursuant to the June 27, 2005 Tourism Law;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 185/2007/ND-CP of December 25, 2007, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006, on elaboration, approval and management of socio-economic development master plans;
Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 04/2008/ND-CP of January 11, 2008, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006, on elaboration, approval and management of socio-economic development master plans;
Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 79/2005/QD-TTg of April 15, 2005, promulgating the Government's Action Plan to implement the Political Bureau's Resolution No. 37-NQ/TW of July 1, 2004, on orientations for socio-economic development and assurance of defense and security in the northern midland and mountainous region up to 2010;
Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 9772002/QD-TTg of July 22, 2002, approving the 2001-2010 tourism development strategy of Vietnam;
At the proposal of the general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the director of the Planning and Finance Department,

DECIDES:

Article 1. To approve the master plan on tourism development in the northern midland and mountainous region up to 2020, with the following principal contents:

1. Scope of the master plan

The northern midland and mountainous region (below referred to as the region) embraces 14 provinces of Cao Bang, Bac Kan, Lang Son, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Tuyen Quang, Thai Nguyen, Phu Tho, Bac Giang, Son La and Hoa Binh.

2. Development objectives

2.1. Overall objective:

To contribute to raising the tourism sector's economic benefits and contributions to the region's socio-economic development; and ensure that tourism development is associated with firm preservation of defense, security, social order and safety and sustainable tourism development.

2.2. Specific objectives:

- Tourist arrivals: To strive for some 1.6 million international tourist arrivals and around 12.5 million domestic tourist arrivals by 2020.

- Tourist revenues: To strive for about USD 1.3 trillion by 2020.

3. Major development orientations

3.1. Tourist markets:

- Domestic markets: Hanoi, Red River delta.

- International markets: Western Europe, Asia- Pacific.

3.2. Tourist products:

- Eco-tourism: gardens, lakes and reservoirs (Hoang Lien, Ba Be, Nui Coc).

- Historical-cultural tourism: Hung Temple. Dien Bien Phu, former safety zones, cultures of northwestern ethnic minority groups.

- Sports-adventure tourism: Trekking Fansipan, passing waterfalls along the Red River system, sightseeing tours.

3.3. Tourism promotion and advertisement:

- To build a general tourism image for the region, disseminate publications introducing its tourist potential and products.

- To introduce the region's tourist potential at domestic and international trade fairs, conferences and workshops and within the framework of tourist, cultural, trade and investment promotion programs.

- To promote socialization of tourism promotion and advertisement.

3.4. Human resource training and development:

- To coordinate with existing training institutions in and outside the region in developing and expanding disciplines in the region's tourism.

- To build a tourism training establishment in Lao Cai.

- To organize retraining programs and refresher courses to improve professional knowledge and skills of existing tourist workers and officials.

- To increase cooperation and professional exchange through study tours and international conferences and workshops in countries with developed tourism.

3.5. National tourist zones (playing the role as a driving force for the region's tourism development):

Pac Po, Ban Gioc (Cao Bang): Ba Be (Bac Kan); Dien Bien Phu- Pa Khoang- Muong Phang (Dien Bien); Sa Pa (Lao Cai); Thac Ba (Yen Bai); Hoa Binh reservoir (Hoa Binh); Hung Temple (Phu Tho): former safety zones (Thai Nguyen, Tuyen Quang, Bac Kan); Dinh Hoa (Thai Nguyen); Moc Chau (Son La).

3.6. Tourist urban centers: Sa Pa mountain resort city (Lao Cai).

3.7. Tourist routes:

- National and international tourist routes include:

+ Lang Son- Hanoi- Northern delta provinces.

+ Cao Bang- Bac Kan-Thai Nguyen- Hanoi-Northern delta provinces.

+ Ha Giang- Tuyen Quang- Phu Tho- Hanoi-

Northern delta provinces.

+ Northwest- Hanoi- Northern delta provinces.

+ Kunming (China)- Lao Cai- Hanoi- Hai Phong- Quang Ninh.

+ Nanning (China)- Lang Son- Hanoi- Hai Phong- Quang Ninh.

- Intra-region routes include:

- Hoa Binh- Son La- Dien Bien (Dien Bien Phu); Lai Chau-Lao Cai (Sa Pa)- Yen Bai- Ha Giang- Cao Bang- Lang Son.

- Hoa Binh- Son La- Dien Bien (Dien Bien Phu)- Yen Bai (Yen Binh)- Bac Kan (Ba Be)-Lang Son (Dong Mo).

+ Thai Nguyen- Ba Be- Cao Bang (Ban Gioc)- Lang Son.

+ Bac Giang- Lang Son- Cao Bang- Bac Kan-Thai Nguyen- Tuyen Quang- Ha Giang.

+ Son La- Dien Bien (Dien Bien Phu)- Lai Chau- Lao Cai (Sa Pa).

+ Phu Tho (Viet Tri)- Yen Bai- Lao Cai (Sa Pa).

+ Phu Tho (Viet Tri)- Son La- Dien Bien (Dien Bien Phu)- Lao Cai (Sa Pa).

3.8. Expected national tourist spots (apart from those within national tourist zones mentioned at Point 3.5, Clause 3, Article 1 of this Decision):

Tarn Thanh pagoda, Nhi Thanh grotto, Vong Phu mount, Mau Son mount (Lang Son); Dong Van plateau (Ha Giang).

3.9. Tourist resource protection

To formulate and approve, and manage the implementation of, a planning on conservation of tourist resources in the region and each province; to increase measures to strictly manage tourist and other socio-economic activities that are likely to affect the system of tourist resources; to promptly overcome any incidents and the degradation of tourist resources and environment; to develop eco-tourism and historical-cultural tourism while ensuring environmental protection and sustainable tourism development.

4. Major measures to implement the master plan

4.1. Organization of management:

To establish a group to coordinate the region's tourist development under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

4.2. Tourist development investment:

- A list of priority investment projects up to 2020 (see enclosed list).

- Total investment amount for each project will be specifically determined in the process of elaborating, evaluating and approving its feasibility study in accordance with law.

- Funding: To be mostly raised from investors of all economic sectors at home and abroad; and state budget supports for traffic infrastructure building and embellishment, renovation and protection of historical-cultural and revolutionary relics of special importance or ranked as national relics.

- Policies to encourage, favor and support tourist development investment in accordance with Decree No. 108/2006/ND-CP detailing and guiding a number of articles of the Investment Law and Decision No. 201/2006/QD-TTg on principles, criteria and limits for allocation of state budget funds for investment development in the 2007-2010 period.

Article 2. Responsibilities of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism

1. To publicize the master plan on tourist development in the region up to 2020 for implementation; to give guidance for localities in the region to manage the implementation of the master plan in accordance with law.

2. To be responsible for studying and deciding on or proposing to competent authorities for decision the following issues:

- Tasks and activities and operation regulations of the Ministry's group to coordinate the region's tourism development.

- Management responsibilities of other branches that have influences on the tourism sector's development, with a view to promoting sustainable tourist development.

- Contribution mechanism and obligations of tourist organizations and enterprises that will benefit from the State's investment in the protection and embellishment of historical, cultural and revolutionary relics and development of technical infrastructure facilities for tourist business activities.

3. In the implementation of this master plan in the provinces, to coordinate with concerned ministries, branches, localities and organizations in implementing in a coordinated manner local tourist development plannings.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect 15 days after its publication in "CONG BAO."

Article 4. The director of the Office, the director of the Organization and Personnel Department, the director of the Planning and Finance Department, the general director of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, the heads of units under the Ministry, and the directors of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Services of the provinces specified in Clause 1 of Article 1 shall implement this Decision.-

LIST

OF PRIORITY INVESTMENT PROJECTS UP TO 2020
(Attached to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister's Decision No. 91/2008/QDOBVHTTDLof December 30, 2008)

Note: The locations, sizes and total investment amounts of the projects will be calculated, selected and determined in the process of elaborating, submitting and approving the projects based on the localities' demands and their resource-mobilizing capabilities.-