The target was set in a recently approved master plan on the province’s tourism development to 2020 with a vision for 2030.

Accordingly, Quang Ninh aims to rake in annual tourism revenue of US$1.5 billion, along with 7.4 million foreign tourist arrivals and 8 million domestic visitors every year by 2020.

Tourism earnings are set to account for 10% of the local gross domestic product, twice the current figure, over the period.

Quang Ninh is home to Ha Long Bay, a world heritage site, and Yen Tu Buddhist centre, among other popular destinations for visitors.

In 2013, the province served 7.5 million holidaymakers, a year-on-year rise of 7%, and earned VND5 trillion (US$235 million) from this sector.