Decision No. 2351/QD-TTg approving the master plan on development of tourism in southeast region through 2020, with a vision toward 2030

20 THE PRIME MINISTER No. 2351/QD-TTg OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nos 01-03/Februa11' 2015 THE SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Independence - Freedom - Happiness Hanoi, December 24, 2014 DECISION Approving the master plan on tourism development in the southeast region through 2020, with a vision toward 2030(*J THE PRIME MINISTER Pursuant to the December 25, 2001 Law on Organization of the Government; Pursuant to the June 14, 2005 Law on Tourism; Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006, on formulation, approval and management of socio-economic development master plans, and the Government's Decree No. 04/2008/ND-CP of Janua,y 11, 2008, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 92/2006/ND-CP of September 7, 2006,· Pursuant to the Government's Decree No. 92/2007/ND-CP of June 1, 2007, detailing a number of articles of the Law on Tourism, and the Government's Decree No. 180/2013/ND-CP of November 14, 2013, amending and supplementing a number of articles of the Government's Decree No. 92/2007/ND-CP of June 1, 2007; Pursuant to the Prime Minister's Decision No. 201/QD-TTg of January 22, 2013, approving the master plan on development of Vietnam's tourism through 2020, with a vision toward 2030,· At the proposal of the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, DECIDES: Article 1. To approve the master plan on tom-ism development in the southeast region through 2020, with a vision toward 2030 (below refened to as master plan), with the following principal contents: 1. Geographical position, scale, boundaries The southeast region (below refened to as the region) embraces Ho Chi Minh City and five provinces of Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh, with an area of 23,597.9 km2. Its geographical position is as follows: Bordering the Kingdom of Cambodia to the n01th and n01thwest. Bordering the provinces south of the southern central coast and the East Sea to the east and n01theast. Bordering the Mekong River delta provinces to the west and southwest. 2 . Development viewpoints The region's tom-ism will be developed according to general viewpoints of the strategy ('J Cong Bao Nos 39-40 (10/1/2015) ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fornm lssut> nos 01-03/Ft>bruary 2015 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 21 and master plan on development of Vietnam's tourism through 2020, with a vision towru·d 2030, and the following specific development viewpoints: al To develop the region's tourism in line with the master plans on socio-economic development of the southeast region and the southern key economic region and in consistency with relevant sectoral development strategies and master plans in the region; b/ To develop the region's tourism toward intensifying linkage and bringing into full play the tourist potential and advantages of localities and the region; c/ To concmTently develop various tourist products such as convention, marine, cultural and ecological tourism, with convention tourism as a key tourist product; d/ To make investment with focuses and priorities in and mobilize all resources for sustainable development of tourism in haimony with socio-economic development, social security, national defense and security, environmental protection, and climate change response objectives. 3. Development objectives a/ General objective To develop tourism in order to tmn the region into a leading dynamic region for national tourism development with diversified and typical tourist products competitive with those of regional countries. b/ Specific objectives Sectoral development targets + Tourists: By 2020, to receive over 30 million tourist aITivals, including ru·ound 6 million international tourist aITivals. By 2030, these figures will be 50 million and 12 million, respectively. + Total revenues from tourism will reach ru·ound VND 125 trillion by 2020 and over VND 230 trillion by 2030. Number of tourist accommodation establishments: By 2020, there will be ai·ound 90,000 hotel rooms, with about 25% of which reaching the standru·ds of 3 to 5 stars. By 2030, these figures will be over 145,000 and 30%, respectively. Employment tru·gets: By 2020, to employ ru·ound 400,000 people, including 30,000 working directly in tourism. By 2030, these figures will be over 1 million and over 350,000, respectively. 4. Major development orientations a/ Simultaneous development of the domestic tourist mai·ket and international tourist mai·ket The international tourist market: + To focus on such major markets as No1iheastAsia, Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe. + To maintain the high-grade traditional markets such as Eastern Europe, No1ihern Europe, No1ihern America and Australia. + To seek new markets such as India, Turkey and Middle East countries. The domestic tourist market: + To focus on intra-region tourists; to attract tourists from adjacent areas like the southern central coast, Central Highlands and Mekong River delta region, and tourists from ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fomm 22 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nos 01-03/Februa11' 2015 Hanoi, attaching imp01tance to tourists who travel for convalescence, conventions, weekend rests and shopping. + To encourage the development and expansion of the specialized tourism market. bl Development of tourist products To prioritize the development of convention tourism and marine leisure tourism. To develop auxiliaiy tourist products such as tours to historical and cultural relics; eco-tourism; tourism of exploration and scientific reseai·ch in national parks and conservation zones; festival and spiritual tourism; and crnise tourism. c/ Organization of tourism development space Tourism development space + The region 's tourist center will be Ho Chi Minh City where typical tourist products will be exploited, including convention tourism; marine eco-tourism; recreation, ente1tainment and sports; weekend rests and crnise tourism. + Sea-island tourism will be developed in Ba Ria-Vung Tau province, attaching irnpoitance to Vung Tau and Xuyen Moc tourist urban areas and Con Dao national tourist zone with the exploitation of typical tourist products, such as leisure and sea-bathing; healthcai·e; tours to historical and cultural relics and scenic places; convention tourism, and crnise tourism. + Urban-ecological tourism will be developed in Dong Nai and Binh Duong provinces, focusing on typical tourist products, such as lake and orchai·d eco-tourism; tours to historical­ cultural relics and craft villages; festival and spiritual tourism. + Tours to historical and cultural relics and eco-tourism will be developed in Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces, focusing on typical tourist products, such as festival and spiritual tourism; tours to historical and cultural relics and scenic places; eco-tourism and convalescence at mountains, national parks and lakes; tours to craft villages. Tourist zones, tourist sites and tourist urban centers: + To focus investment in developing four national tourist zones, including Can Gio (Ho Chi Minh City), Long Hai-Phuoc Hai (Ba Ria-Vung Tau), Ba Den mountain (Tay Ninh), and Con Dao (Ba Ria-Vung Tau); and five national tourist sites, including Cu Chi (Ho Chi Minh City); Cat Tien national pai·k (Dong Nai); Tri An reservoir-Ma Da (Dong Nai); the Central Office for South Vietnam (Tay Ninh); and Ta Thiet (Binh Phuoc). + To step by step fo1m Vung Tau tourist urban center (Ba Ria-Vung Tau). Intra-region tourist routes: + Major tourist routes embracing major national highways linking Ho Chi Minh City (the region 's tourist center) with localities in the region. + Auxiliaiy tourist routes linking the region 's tourist center, tourist centers of localities and tourist urban centers with adjacent tourist sites in the region, including routes from central urban ai·eas to adjacent tourist sites of localities in the region; a tourist route along belt road 5 of Ho Chi Minh City; My Phuoc-Tan Van route, and belt road 4 of Ho Chi Minh City. Based on the system of intra-region routes, to open and operate specialized tourist routes, such as weekend tours to Vung Tau sea for leisure; marine eco-tourism and tours to the Con Dao historical relic; tours to orchards and craft villages and eco-tours in Can Gio wetland; river tours along Sai Gon, Varn Co Dong, Dong Nai and Thi Vai rivers, and eco-tours to Dong Nai, Tri An and Dau Tieng reservoirs. ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fornm lssut> nos 01-03/Ft>bruary 2015 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 23 To develop inter-regional tourist routes by land, railway, wate1way and air to provinces in the Central Highlands, Mekong River delta and southern central coast and northern provinces. To develop national tourist routes by airway, land and wate1way directly linking with international border gates in the region, such as: + Tan Son Nhat international airpo1t (Ho Chi Minh City); + Tran-Asia railway route (Di An-Loe Ninh-Cambodia); + National highways linking with international land border gates such as national highways 22 and 22B linking with Moc Bai and Xa Mat international land border gates (Tay Ninh); and national highways 13 and 14 linking with Hoa Lu international land border gate (Binh Phuoc); + Wate1way tours via the seaports in Ho Chi Minh City and Vung Tau city (Ba Ria­ Vung Tau). d/ Investment in tourism development State budget funds (including official development assistance - ODA), foreign direct investment (FDI) capital, contributions of domestic organizations, ente1prises and econoinic sectors, and capital from other lawful sources. State budget funds shall be allocated based on the annual budget-balancing capacity and schedule in each period. Investment programs and projects: To prioritize investment in developing the four national tourist zones and five national tourist sites. To invest in four tourism development programs on human resources training and development; promotion, adve1tising and branding of the region's tourism; conservation, restoration and development of natural resources; and development of key tourist infrastructure facilities. 5. Solutions for implementation of the master plan a/ Investment in tourism development Investment in tourism +To organize investment promotion fomms and conferences in order to atti·act capital for tourism development in the region; to regularly organize conferences on tourism development in the region. + To improve the investment environment for raising the region's competitiveness in tourism. To review, create and modify investment atti·action mechanisms and policies to suit the region's characteristics and create open and appropriate mechanisms for localities; to adopt priority policies for difficulty-hit localities that are not yet able to develop tourism. Raising capital for tourism + To mobilize financial resources from people and domestic and foreign organizations in order to have sufficient investment capital for tourism. + To increase and diversify fonns of domestic and foreign investment such as BOT, BTO, BT and PPP. + To step up the promotion and atti·action, and adopt incentive mechanisms and policies for atti·action, of FD I in tourism; to atti·act investment from the overseas Vietnamese community. + To intensify socialization of investment in the protection and embellishment of relics and scenic places; conservation and restoration of festivals, folk cultural activities and craft villages for tourism development. ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fomm 24 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nos 01-03/Februa11' 2015 + To diversify sources of investment capital through socialization of tourist types and products; to facilitate the raising of capital for tourism. bl Development of human resources To raise the quality of lecturers of tourism training institutions; to attach imp01tance to renewing training contents, cu1Ticula and methods; to enhance on-the-spot training to meet each locality's human resources development requirements and international integration requirements. To develop human resources for tourism to be sufficient in quantity, balanced in trained jobs and training levels and good in quality to meet tourism development requirements of the region and the whole country. To improve the quality of state tourism managers and managers of tourism businesses and tourist zones in localities in the region. To improve tourism promotion and adve1i ising capacity for staffs of local tourism promotion centers in the region. c/ Linkage for tourism development To increase the exchange of tourism development experiences among localities in the region. To ensure close coordination among localities in the exploitation of natural resources, creation of tourist products and development of tourist programs, and ensure unifo1m contents and fo1ms of tourism promotion and adveliising. To intensify exchange, coordination and assistance in the provision of services among tourism businesses in the region, especially between tr·avel companies and tourist accommodation and tr·anspo1iation businesses in the reception of and catering for tourists. To expand and increase intra- and inter-region linkage and linkage among localities in the region; to promote cooperation and linkage between the tourism industry and relevant industr·ies and sectors, especially public security and national defense units, in order to ensure safety for tourists, contributing to maintaining social order and safety and national security. To enhance international cooperation in tourism development for defending national sovereignty and tenitorial integrity. d/ Tourism planning and management of regional tourism planning Synchronous implementation of master plans: Based on this master plan, the provinces and cities in the region shall review and adjust their existing tourism development master plans and plans or draw up new ones as appropriate; and fo1mulate a master plan on development of national tourist zones and tourist cities; and make specific plans for functional tourist zones and investment projects for each locality in the region. Enhanced management of planning + To disseminate this master plan to people of all str·ata, communities and religions . + To plant bounda1y landmarks for identified or invested projects to protect land areas and resources for tourism. + To supervise tourist-economic no1ms and criteria for protection of natural resources and environment. + To perfo1m integrated management of investment projects of other sectors in the region which have been planned for tourism development. + To build a contingent of professional staffs specialized in the management of tourism planning, natural resources and the environment under provincial-level Departments of Culture, Spo1is and Tourism. ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fornm lssut> nos 01-03/Ft>bruary 2015 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 25 dd/ Tomism promotion and adve1tising To strengthen tourism promotion and adve1tising agencies. To work out programs and roadmaps for diversified tourism promotion activities in each locality in the region; to step up tourism promotion and adve1tising in the potential markets for boosting the region 's tourism. To study and create a regional mechanism for tourism promotion and adve1tising. To step up public info1mation on the socialization policy to mobilize eve1y resource for tourism promotion and adve1tising. To bring into play the role of overseas Vietnamese diplomatic representative missions in suppo1ting the promotion and adve1tising of the region 's tourism. e/ Science and technology application and international cooperation To build and complete a database and statistics on the region 's tourism. To step up scientific research and technology transfer in tourism for raising the quality of tourist products, attaching impo1tance to the application of science and technology to the management and exploitation of natural resources and creation of tourist products, tourist statistics, and assessment of environmental and climate change impacts on tourist activities. To take the initiative in fo1mulating and proposing projects to be financed through international cooperation and by international organizations. g/ Development of tourist markets and products To fo1mulate strategies on tourist markets to ensure stable and sustainable tourism development. To encourage the setting up of strong and capable travel companies to attract tourists, attaching impo1tance to international tours. To prioritize the constrnction and fo1mation of national tourist zones and sites with spillover effects for tourism development across the region; to invest in and develop high­ quality recreation and ente1tainment se1v ice zones to increase tourists' spending and prolonging their lengths of stay. To raise the quality of tourist products linked with the sea, islands, rivers and lakes and humane tourist resources for developing typical tourist products of the region and diversifying types of tourism; to focus on building the "convention tourism" brand as a key tourist product and the brand of the region. h/ Protection of natural resources and the tourist environment and response to climate change To enhance public info1mation to raise awareness about the role and significance of tourism, natural resources and environment for tourism. To apply technical advances to controlling issues related to the environment, natural resources management and development. To encourage environment-friendly tourist activities; to encourage and suppo1t local communities to invest in developing tourism and sharing benefits and responsibilities in the utilization of natural resources for tourism development. To work out effective technical solutions for protecting natural resources and the tourist environment, and effective measures for disaster prevention and control. ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fomm 26 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nos 01-03/Februa11' 2015 To review and adjust master plans in confonnity with climate change and sea level n se scenan os. Article 2. Organization of implementation 1. The State Steering Committee on Tourism The State Steering Committee on Tourism shall direct activities of ministries, central sectors and localities in the region in settling inter-sectoral and inter-provincial issues dmi.ng the implementation of this master plan . 2 . The Ministry of Cultme, Spo1is and Tourism a/ To publicize, and organize the implementation of, this master plan. bl To assume the prime responsibility for fo1mulating and implementing master plans on development of tom-ism in inter-provincial national tourist zones and national tomist sites of importance to national defense and secmity in the region . cl To coordinate with other ministries, sectors and People's Committees of the provinces and centr·ally nm cities in the region in perf01ming relevant tasks in all tourist activities; to review and improve mechanisms and policies to encomage and call for investment in building physical foundations and tr·aining human resomces for tom-ism in the region, based on the list of prioritized investment projects attached to this Decision . Based on the practical implementation of this master plan, the Ministry of Cultme, Spo1is and Tom-ism and People 's Committees of the provinces and centr·ally nm cities in the region shall reach agreement on the renaming of, or addition or reduction of, prioritized investment projects. d/ To fo1mulate, and organize the implementation of, 5-year plans of action for tourism development in confo1mity with the orientations of this master plan . dd/ To fo1mulate, and organize the implementation of, specialized cultme and spo1is policies, master plans, programs, schemes and projects in confo1mity with the orientations of this master plan. el To guide localities in the region to draw up master plans on tom-ism development in their localities and master plans on local tourist zones and tomist sites. g/ To annually review, and propose policies and solutions for adjustment of, this master plan to suit reality, and repo1i them to the Prime Minister. 3. Ministr·ies, ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies shall, based on their functions, tasks and powers, assume the prime responsibility for, and coordinate with the Ministry of Cultme, Spo1is and Tom-ism in, implementing this master plan, specifically as follows: Submitting to the Government or the Prime Minister plans on integration of the implementation of national target programs and action programs of their sectors into the implementation of this master plan; Assmning the prime responsibility for drawing up action programs and plans of their sectors to perfo1m their assigned tasks in this master plan; Effectively coordinating with the Ministry of Cultme, Spo1ts and Tourism in settling inter-sectoral issues. 4. The People's Committees of the provinces and centrally nm cities in the region shall coordinate with the Ministry of Cultme, Spo1is and Tourism and related ministi-ies and sectors in perfo1ming the following tasks: ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fornm l ssut> nos 01-03/Ft>bruary 2015 OFFICIAL GAZETTE 27 To take the initiative in implementing and expanding linkage among their localities in tourism promotion and advertising to attract tourists and call for investment in tourism. To encourage businesses in the region to participate in developing typical tourist products of the region; to create favorable conditions for businesses to cooperate with their localities in tourism development. Based on this master plan, to fo1mulate a master plan on tourism development and detailed plans and investment projects in line with their master plans on socio-economic development. To direct and manage the protection of tourist resources and environment, especially areas planned for development into national tourist zones or sites. To attach imp01t ance to traffic order and safety for ensuring safety for tourists and boosting tourism in the region and their localities. To raise the awareness oflocal communities about preserving and promoting the values of tourist resources toward sustainable development. To socialize tourism development activities in order to bring into play the strengths of different economic sectors for tourism development. Based on this master plan, to establish a channel for regular info1mation exchange among management agencies at all levels in the region in order to work out appropriate plans for directing and guiding tourism businesses and investors to strictly comply with the region 's development orientations. To inspect and examine tourism investment, exploitation and development activities. 5. Tourism businesses, tourism associations and other mass organizations and socio­ political organizations Tourism associations and other social organizations shall, within the ambit of their functions, grasp the objectives, viewpoints and orientations in this master plan for concretizing them into their own programs of action. Mass organizations and socio-political organizations shall coordinate with the local tourism industiy and administl'ations in the region in adve1tising tourism in the region; mobilize, and conduct public info1mation to raise the awareness of local communities about tourism, tourism master plans and the sense of protecting natural resources and the tourist environment. Local communities shall actively paiticipate in tourist activities, such as provision of community tourist services, conservation and sustainable exploitation of natural resources and protection of the tourist environment in accordance with tourism development master plans. Article 3. This Decision takes effect on the date of its signing. Article 4. Ministers, heads of ministerial-level agencies and government-attached agencies, chairpersons of the People 's Committees of Ho Chi Minh City and Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Dong Nai, Binh Duong, Binh Phuoc and Tay Ninh provinces shall implement this Decision. For the Prime Minister Deputy Prime Minister VU DUC DAM ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fomm 28 OFFICIAL GAZETTE Issue nos 01-03/Februa11' 2015 Appendix LIST OF PRIORITIZED INVESTMENT PROJECTS (To the Prime Minister :S- Decision No. 2351/QD-TTg of December 24, 2014) No. Name of project Implementation phase I Investment in developing national tourist zones 1 Can Gio national tourist zone (Ho Chi Minh City) To 2020 2021-2030 2 Long Hai-Phuoc Hai national tourist zone To 2020 (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) 3 Con Dao national tourist zone (Ba Ria-Vung Tau) To 2020 2021-2030 4 Ba Den mountain national tourist zone (Tay Ninh) To 2020 II Investment in developing national tourist sites 1 Cu Chi national tourist site (Ho Chi Minh City) To 2020 2 National tourist site in the Central Office for South To 2020 Vietnam (Tay Ninh) 3 Ta Thiet national tourist site (Binh Phuoc) To 2020 4 Cat Tien national tourist site (Dong Nai) To 2020 2021-2030 5 Tri An reservoir-Ma Da national tourist site To 2020 2021-2030 (Dong Nai) III Regional tourism development programs 1 Promotion, adve1tising and branding To 2020 2021-2030 2 Development of human resources To 2020 2021-2030 3 Conservation and embellishment o f tourist To 2020 2021-2030 resources and environment 4 Development of key infrastrncture To 2020 2021-2030 Note: The sizes and land areas of the above tourist zones and sites and total investment amounts of the above projects will be calculated, selected and specified in the stages of fo1mulation and submission of investment projects, depending on the capacity of balancing and raising investment capital in each period. ©Vietnam Law and Legal Fornm