Nha Trang Beach is a popular tourist destination in Khánh Hòa Province. — VNA/VNS Photo Tiên Minh

KHÁNH HÒA — Khánh Hòa Province needs to exploit and maximise its potential and advantages to develop the marine economy as a foundation and tourism as a key economic sector.

This is one of the main parts of Decision No 318/QĐ-TTg issued on Wednesday. The decision, signed by Deputy Prime Minister Trần Hồng Hà, approved Khánh Hòa Province’s master plan for the 2021-30 period, with a vision to 2050.

Under the decision, the province will promote the role of a fisheries centre so that the south central coast and Trường Sa (Spratly) fishing grounds will develop into a spearhead area in offshore fishing and fisheries logistics of the region.

It will develop the Vân Phong Bay area into a modern marine economic centre, a driving force for the province in particular and the south-central region in general.

The Vân Phong Economic Zone will be divided into two areas – Bắc Vân Phong and Nam Vân Phong.

The Bắc Vân Phong area will be developed into a world-class tourist and resort urban area to exploit the value of the area’s location and landscape. Biodiversity conservation will also be implemented.

The Nam Vân Phong area will focus on industrial park business projects, key industrial projects such as high-tech industry, energy, oil and gas processing and shipbuilding.

The master plan aimed at promoting Nha Trang City as an economic, political, cultural, social, scientific, technological and human resource centre of the province.

Also under the plan, the Cam Ranh Bay area will be considered a key economic and social area associated with national defence and security. Cam Ranh City will be developed into a tourism and logistics urban area, whereas Cam Lâm District will become a modern, ecological and world-class airport city.

Vạn Ninh District will become a high-class beach tourism urban area, Ninh Hòa Town an industrial city, Diên Khánh District an ecological and traditional cultural city, while Khánh Sơn and Khánh Vinh districts will be mountainous ecological suburban areas.

The overall goal is that by 2030, Khánh Hòa will become a centrally-managed city with international sea tourism and service centre, a growth pole, centre of the central coast region, the Central Highlands and the whole country in terms of marine economy, high-tech industry, science and technology, innovation, human resources and high-quality healthcare.

Gross regional domestic product (GRDP) per capita will be among the 15 highest provinces and cities in the country.

Ecosystems and natural landscapes are protected, and able to adapt to climate change. National defence, security and sovereignty of the sea and islands are firmly guaranteed.

Khánh Hòa Province targets average GRDP growth rate in 2021-30 of 8.3 per cent per year, GRDP per capita is VNĐ189 million (US$8,000), average labour productivity growth in the period 2021-30 will reach seven per cent per year.

Urbanisation rate will reach 70 per cent.

Total tourists will reach 13.8 million, including seven million international and 6.8 million domestic. — VNS