Hanoi (VNA) – The development of tourism in Son TraPeninsula of central Da Nang city must be in harmony with environmental andbiodiversity protection and sustainable development, according to manyparticipants in a seminar in Hanoi on May 30.

The seminar, which sought sustainable tourismdevelopment in the Son Tra national tourism site, drew representatives of manyministries, sectors and the Vietnam Tourism Association (VITA), and specialistsin environment, construction and tourism.

Deputy Ministry of Culture, Sports and TourismHuynh Vinh Ai said in the strategy for and master plan on Vietnam’s tourismdevelopment until 2020, Son Tra Peninsula is named one of the 47 potentialplaces to be developed into national tourism sites. 

A master plan for developing the Son Tranational tourism site was publicised in early 2017 by the ministry and Da Nangcity. 

However, the Da Nang Tourism Association andsome relevant organisations and agencies asked the Prime Minister to reviewthis plan in fear that it might influence biodiversity preservation andsecurity-defence. They also called for maintaining the status quo of Son Trawithout any new accommodation facilities allowed to be built, he noted.

The issue is complex and controversial andrequires thorough consideration, particularly when it comes to the handling ofthe projects that were already approved on the site, Ai added.

VITA Vice Chairman Vu The Binh said strictregulations, especially those on the environment, must be issued to ensure thesustainable development of tourism. He asked all the licensed projects to bereviewed so as to make appropriate adjustments.

“We should not be too persistent in keeping the statusquo of Son Tra but make harmonious development and construction so that (SonTra) deserves the status of a national tourism site,” he noted.

He added close supervision is needed for stagesof a project, to ensure it won’t affect the environment. Any investors whoviolate environmental protection rules must be stringently handled and theirprojects must be stopped.

Deputy Minister Ai said Deputy Prime Minister VuDuc Dam recently ordered a three-month suspension of the implementation of themaster plan for developing the Son Tra national tourism site so that Da Nangcan settle related requests.

Another seminar on the issue will be held in DaNang to collect opinions of experts and officials.

The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism and the Da Nang People’sCommittee will review the adjustment of the number of accommodation rooms inSon Tra. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and theMinistry of Natural Resources and Environment will work on data about localforests and biodiversity preservation, Ai noted.-VNA