Decision No. 134/2007/QĐ-TTg On approving the Master Plan for the Development of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, Cao Bang Province

Article 1. Approves the Master Plan for the Development of Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, Cao Bang Province with the main contents as follows:

1. Scope of the planning:

The Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area has an area of approximately 1000 hectares located in Dam Thuy Commune, Trung Khanh District, Cao Bang Province. The boundaries of the Tourist Area are specifically defined as follows:

- To the Northeast, it borders the national border with China;

- To the North, it borders the areas of Lung Noi and Lung Phac hamlets (the upper branch of Quay Son River);

- To the Northwest, it borders the area of Chang village and Gioc Ma and Na Ay hamlets;

- To the West, it borders part of Provincial Road 206 and Gun stream;

- To the South, it borders Phia Lac mountain, Thuon village and part of the boundary of Ha Lang district.

2. Objectives:

a) Building and developing the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area into a key tourist destination of Cao Bang Province, commensurate with the tourism development orientation of the region and the country, contributing to promoting economic and social development of the province and the region. Developing the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area must be linked with protecting national sovereignty, territorial integrity, security, public order, and social safety.

b) Building and developing the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area with a reasonable scale to meet the needs of tourists, aiming to welcome about 90,000 tourist visits per year by 2010, including about 13,500 international tourist visits; about 350,000 tourist visits per year by 2015, including about 70,000 international tourist visits; and about 1,000,000 tourist visits per year by 2020, including about 350,000 international tourist visits.

3. Main directions for development:

a) Building and developing the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area to meet the needs of both domestic and international tourists. Investing in building tourism infrastructure and facilities to high quality standards to attract more international tourists, primarily from China, Hanoi City, and northern provinces.

b) Developing tourism products linked with various forms such as scenic sightseeing, ethnic village culture, weekend breaks, entertainment, adventure sports, and other types of tourism, with a focus on developing tourism products that reflect the unique characteristics of Ban Gioc tourism.

c) Organizing the space of the tourist area including the following functional zones:

- Reception, management center for tourism and public services;

- Scenic waterfall tour zone combined with cultural festivals;

- Accommodation zone;

- Cave exploration and rock climbing tour zone;

- Water sports zone;

- Ethnic village culture zone;

- Concentrated urban residential zone;

- Rock park and landscape greenery zone.

d) Investment and development:

- From 2007 to 2010: focusing on investment in technical infrastructure systems and essential tourism facilities to serve tourists, combined with conservation and enhancement of tourism resources and environment.

- From 2011 to 2015: continuing to build and complete the technical infrastructure system of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, investing in construction projects suitable for the characteristics and operational requirements of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area.

- From 2016 to 2020: completing the main objectives and tasks of constructing the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, preparing sufficient conditions to make the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area one of the key tourist destinations in the region.

4. Implementation measures:

a) Implementing appropriate policies to mobilize investment resources for the development of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area according to the set goals.

b) Establishing appropriate mechanisms to encourage and attract qualified human resources to work at the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area. Emphasizing training local human resources to serve the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area. Implementing promotional measures to raise awareness about tourism culture among the local community.

c) Developing and implementing a tourism promotion program consistent with the development goals of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area, integrated with the provincial and national tourism promotion programs.

d) Ensuring that the construction of projects within the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area complies with legal regulations on resource protection and environmental preservation to achieve sustainable tourism development.

Article 2. Implementation organization:

1. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shall be responsible for:

Coordinate with the People's Committee of Cao Bang Province and relevant agencies to implement the Master Plan for the Development of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area to ensure investment and construction in accordance with the Plan; train tourism human resources; integrate the promotion and publicity of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area with the national tourism promotion program; establish mechanisms and policies to encourage travel companies to bring tourists to the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area and other tourist sites in Cao Bang Province.

2. The Ministry of Planning and Investment shall take the lead and coordinate with the Ministry of Finance to consider and submit to the competent authority for supplementation of the central budget targets for Cao Bang Province to invest in the infrastructure of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area in accordance with the State Budget Law and related laws.

3. The People's Committee of Cao Bang Province shall be responsible for:

a) Organizing the announcement of the Master Plan for the Development of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area so that organizations and individuals are aware and comply with it.

b) Directing competent agencies to implement the Master Plan for the Development of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourist Area accurately; proposing adjustments, supplements, and modifications to the Plan to align with the socio-economic development requirements of Cao Bang Province.

c) Approve the detailed planning for the functional zones of the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourism Area to ensure that the construction and development of tourism infrastructure comply with the overall development planning for the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourism Area already approved by the Prime Minister.

d) Develop and implement a promotion and marketing program for the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourism Area. Implement measures to mobilize resources for investment and development of tourism in the Ban Gioc Waterfall Tourism Area.

4. Ministries, sectors, and related agencies shall, based on their assigned functions, tasks, and authorities, be responsible for taking the lead or coordinating with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the People's Committee of Cao Bang Province to implement this Planning.

Article 3. This Decision takes effect fifteen days after its publication in the Official Gazette.

The Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Heads of government agencies, and the Chairman of the People's Committee of Cao Bang Province are responsible for implementing this Decision./.