About 1,700 tourists, 85 per cent of whom are Japanese, aboard a chartered cruise ship are scheduled to visit Hạ Long city on April 30. Photo laodong.vn

QUẢNG NINH — About 1,700 tourists, 85 per cent of whom are Japanese, aboard a chartered cruise ship are scheduled to visit Hạ Long city in the northern province of Quảng Ninh on April 30.

This will mark the first-ever such journey organised by Peace Boat, a renowned Japanese cruise tour operator.

Representatives from the firm arrived in Hạ Long on March 12 to oversee preparations for the arrival of the delegation.

Toda Yoshiaki, Director of Peace Boat’s Cruise Tourism Division, explained that Hạ Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Site, was chosen as the sole stop on the cruise due to its unmatched beauty and global recognition. He added that Japanese tourists have long expressed a desire to visit the bay.

Yoshiaki also revealed that the company worked to schedule the ship’s arrival on an important date for Việt Nam, which celebrates its reunification on April 30.

The ship will depart from Kobe, Japan, on April 20, stopping at several ports before arriving in Hạ Long on the morning of April 30, allowing tourists to enjoy the special events taking place in Việt Nam for this holiday.

During their one-day stay, tourists will be divided into groups for excursions to Hạ Long Bay, the city itself, and possibly nearby Hải Phong or rural villages.

A representative from the Quảng Ninh Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism stated that the province will provide full support to ensure a smooth and safe visit for the tourists.

At a reception for Peace Boat representatives, along with travel agencies and maritime agents in Việt Nam, Nguyễn Thị Hạnh, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee, emphasised that this inaugural Japanese cruise ship visit on April 30 is the result of extensive negotiations and promotional efforts by provincial authorities and relevant organisations. She highlighted that this milestone presents a great opportunity to further develop cruise tourism between Japan and Quảng Ninh, in line with the province's goal of attracting high-end international tourists.

Quảng Ninh is committed to ensuring the best conditions for this event, developing more attractive tourism products, and maintaining a safe and secure environment, she said, expressing her hope that this milestone will help promote Quảng Ninh as a top destination for international cruise lines, including those from Japan.

In 2025, Quảng Ninh aims to welcome 20 million tourists, including 4.5 million foreigners, with total tourism revenue expected to reach VNĐ55 trillion (US$2.16 billion).— VNA/VNS