This was the statement of Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (VNU-USSH), at the scientific conference themed "Quang Ninh: Identifying and Promoting Cultural and Human Values, Creating Resources for Rapid and Sustainable Development," held on September 26, 2023, in Yen Tu, Quang Ninh.
Contributing to the discussion on the topic "Promoting the value of cultural heritage - a vital resource and driving force for sustainable socio-economic development in Quang Ninh province," Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, affirmed that natural resources are a crucial driving force for the sustainable development of Quang Ninh province.
Accordingly, cultural heritage serves as a bridge between the past and the present, between the present and the future, and is the foundation for building and developing human resources. A community without a past is a community with an uncertain future. With its richness and diversity of types, cultural heritage is a solid foundation for development and for shaping the character of the people of Quang Ninh.
Cultural heritage is a resource serving sustainable development and a driving force for the province's economic growth. In recent years, Quang Ninh province has been actively implementing key tasks related to reforming its growth model and shifting its development approach from "brown" to "green," with services and tourism increasingly becoming a leading economic sector, making a positive contribution to socio-economic development and promoting the restructuring of the local economy. Natural landscapes, heritage sites, and scenic spots are the most important factors attracting tourists to Quang Ninh province, and are crucial drivers for the development of the tourism and service economy. According to statistics, the workforce in the province's service and tourism sector increased from 36.7% (2015) to 41.9% (2020). During the period 2011-2015, tourism revenue accounted for 5.1%, while in the period 2016-2020, despite the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism revenue reached 7.1%, with an average annual growth rate of 11.9% for the industry.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan, Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, delivered a presentation at the conference.
According to the Quang Ninh province's tourism development plan, in the coming period, tourism will focus on four key areas: Ha Long, Uong Bi - Dong Trieu - Quang Yen, Van Don - Co To, and Mong Cai. The product lines prioritized for development include: beach and island tourism; cultural and spiritual tourism; community and ecological tourism; and border tourism. Thus, among the province's four key product lines, two are linked to cultural heritage: cultural and spiritual tourism and community tourism.
Professor Hoang Anh Tuan emphasized that Quang Ninh province possesses a rich and diverse treasure trove of tangible and intangible cultural heritage. The value of this heritage is the crystallization of spiritual and material values throughout history, and is an important and sustainable resource for the province. Cultural heritage is a fundamental resource for building and developing the people of Quang Ninh, enabling them to have a distinct identity and strong character, capable of building, developing, and integrating with the world. Therefore, the value of this heritage is primarily a resource for Quang Ninh province to continue creating spiritual values, building and developing its people, and thereby creating material values and surrounding values. This is a crucial resource for building the pillars of "people" and "culture" to concretize the goal of rapid and sustainable development of the province.
Cultural heritage is also a valuable resource and a crucial driving force for the development of tourism and services in Quang Ninh province. Historical sites, scenic spots, and the spiritual values of Quang Ninh's culture and people create an attraction for tourists seeking to learn and explore. Preserving, exploiting, and promoting the value of this heritage is a driving force for Quang Ninh province to achieve its goal of "rapid and sustainable economic development alongside cultural and human development, building a rich and distinctive Quang Ninh culture."
The seminar discussed extremely important and urgent issues aimed at strengthening the leadership of Party committees at all levels in the work of building and developing the culture and people of Quang Ninh in accordance with the spirit of the 13th National Party Congress Resolution and the 15th Provincial Party Congress Resolution, further promoting the strength and cultural values of the people of Quang Ninh, creating resources and momentum for the province's development.
Comrade Nguyen Xuan Ky, Member of the Central Committee of the Party, Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, and Chairman of the Provincial People's Council, presented the central report at the workshop.
The workshop was attended by representatives from several central ministries and agencies; leaders of the Quang Ninh Provincial Party Committee, departments, agencies, and localities in the province; and experts and scientists from across the country.
