Decision 38 COM 7B.72

Ha Long Bay (Viet Nam) (N 672bis)

The World Heritage Committee,

1. Having examined Document WHC-14/38.COM/7B,
2. Recalling Decision 37 COM 7B.16, adopted at its 37th session (Phnom Penh, 2013),
3. Commends the State Party for comprehensively addressing the conservation issues previously identified by the Committee, and welcomes the satisfactory progress made in finding effective solutions, related to industrial developments outside the property, population growth inside the property, aquaculture activities, tourism pressure and visitor management, and development of the Cua Van Cultural Centre;
4. Also welcomes the intention of the State Party to evaluate the management effectiveness of the property and establish an integrated management system;
5. Requests the State Party to implement all the recommendations of the 2013 IUCN reactive monitoring mission, and in particular to strengthen the administrative capability of the Ha Long Bay Management Department by allowing it a greater degree of independence, authority, and decision-making power in conducting its day-to-day management and enforcement roles and responsibilities;
6. Encourages the State Party to further strengthen its efforts toward ensuring that tourist visitor pressure in the property continues to be reduced to a level that is compatible with the long-term conservation of the property and, also encourages the State Party to increase the contribution of tourism revenue to the Ha Long Bay Management Department, including from tourism operator concession fees;
7. Urges the State Party to continue its efforts to ensure that the floating villages can be sustainably managed without pressure on the Outstanding Universal Value of the property;
8. Also requests the State Party to submit to the World Heritage Centre, by 1 December 2016, a progress report, including a 1-page executive summary, on the implementation of the above.