Con Dao National Park Tourism Development Plan Updated and Approved

Ho Chi Minh City's People's Committee has approved revisions and additions to the ecological tourism, resort, and recreational development plan for Con Dao National Park until 2030. The plan aims to leverage the natural landscape values of Con Dao National Park to develop ecological tourism, ensuring harmony between economic-tourism development and nature conservation for sustainable development. Furthermore, the plan seeks to enhance environmental education and communication about nature conservation for local residents, domestic, and international tourists. It also aims to boost investment attraction for high-quality ecological tourism, resort, and recreational areas under the forest canopy, and effectively implement the forest environment rental policy. This will drive socio-economic development, create jobs, and improve living standards for residents to achieve green and sustainable development goals for the Con Dao special administrative-economic zone and Ho Chi Minh City. A specific target is to attract 80,000-100,000 visitors annually, with approximately 30-35% being international tourists. The principles for developing ecological tourism, resort, and recreation include adhering to forest and marine conservation laws and standards, developing in conjunction with conserving endemic resources, sustainably renting forest environments, developing tourism infrastructure according to green standards, ensuring security and safety, and responding to climate change. The project scope covers 20 points for ecological tourism, resort, and recreation development, spanning over 900 hectares, including more than 885 hectares of forest and 20 hectares of marine area. Additionally, 100 hectares of the marine buffer zone are planned for attracting investment in high-tech marine farming. Moreover, 19 ecological tourism, resort, and recreation routes are planned, with 17 based on existing forest patrol routes, trails, and sea routes, totaling 293.5 kilometers. Two cable car routes are also planned, with a total length of 5.5 kilometers. Currently, Con Dao National Park has three under-forest tourism projects with investment licenses that are being implemented, and three other projects have received investment policy approval. According to Mr. Nguyen Khac Pho, Director of Con Dao National Park, the park will soon publicly announce its investment conditions criteria and call for investors.