In his opening remarks, Pham Quang Ngoc, Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, said that since Trang An received the UNESCO title, the Ninh Binh provincial authorities have issued many resolutions, plans, regulations, and documents on integrating the heritage’s conservation with socio-economic development and sustainable tourism.
He reported that the Trang An Landscape Complex welcomed more than 4.6 million visitors in 2023, up from the figure of around 2.2 million visitors in 2014.
The tourist areas and attractions in the Trang An Landscape Complex have played an important role in promoting tourism development in Ninh Binh Province over the past decade, he said.
Trang An Complex has been protected and preserved by the local community and has benefited the local community, he stressed.
Speaking at the event, Simona-Mirela Miculescu, President of the 42nd General Conference of UNESCO, said that the ceremony not only marks a decade of global recognition of the enormous value of a natural and cultural treasure but also provides an opportunity to honour the excellent heritage conservation and sustainable development in Trang An Complex.
She hailed that Trang An has established strong evidence of preserving the heritage’s diversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits deriving from heritage.
Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang speaks at the ceremony (Photo: congluan.vn) |
For his part, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang praised the outcomes of the Ninh Binh Provincial Party Committee, authorities, and people in preserving and promoting Trang An Complex over the past 10 years.
He also identified several tasks for the locality to better safeguard and uphold the value of the heritage, including mobilising more resources and support in the planning and development of Trang An Complex; increasing the participation and responsibility of locals in heritage preservation; and strengthening international cooperation and experience sharing in heritage conservation.
Participants at the ceremony enjoyed an art program featuring many traditional folk art forms such as Cheo (Vietnamese traditional opera) and Xam (ballads sung by wandering blind musicians).