Quang Ninh (VNA) – Tickets to enter sightseeingspots and stay overnight at Ha Long Bay, a UNESCO World Natural Heritage Sitein the northern province of Quang Ninh, have been cut by half as part of thelocality’s efforts to support travel companies.

The policy, effective from July 10 to September 30, was introducedamidst a sharp decline in foreign tourists, the major customer source of cruiseships operating on the bay due to the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic.

The ships have operated by only 10 percent of theircapacity.

In the first six months of this year, Quang Ninh welcomednearly 4.2 million visitors, but including only 491,000 foreigners, equivalentto 17 percent of that in the same period last year.

Earlier in mid-May, Quang Ninh launched a package of 200billion VND to support tourism sector. The locality opened for free all touristsites on Ha Long for all tourists, excluding those who used overnight servicesin cruise ships at the bay.

Bui Cong Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Ha Long Cruise LinesAssociation lauded the local government’s support. He showed his hope thatcommercial banks will extend the interest payment time for their loans, helpingthem avoid going bankrupted.