The town has become a major cash cow for tourism operators.

The project, worth about $60 million, will be implemented this year and scheduled to conclude in 2020. Under the plan, the province will seek to restore and preserve the historic residences at the ancient town centre, as well as to limit urbanisation around the preserved areas.

“We are witnessing a rapid downgrading and urbanising process in Hoi An that could make this site less attractive to tourists. Therefore, it is our key task to urgently preserve the cultural features of Hoi An,” said Vo Phung, director of the Hoi An Culture and Sport Centre.

Hoi An was recognised as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, with buildings that display a unique blend of local and foreign influences. During the 15th to 19th centuries, Hoi An was an important trading port, welcoming Indian traders, all of whom left their stamps on the town’s development. Over the past decade, this well-known site has won the hearts of both foreign and domestic tourists alike. Quang Nam authorities’ estimates put the number of tourists visiting Hoi An ancient town in 2009 at about 1.2 million, and the number of visitors is forecast to reach 2.6 million by 2015.

While investors are flocking to Hoi An to develop high-end resorts in order to meet this increasing demand, Phung admitted that the local tourism industry could be seriously affected due to the deterioration of the ancient town centre and the urbanisation of surrounding areas.

A recent report of the Quang Nam Provincial People’s Committee said the urbanisation was happening “very strongly”, especially in the coastal corridors from Danang to Hoi An, and in the areas surrounding the popular Cua Dai Beach. “That [urbanisation] will threaten the quality of the plan to preserve Hoi An ancient town,” the report concluded.

“If we let the ancient town deteriorate and be overrun by urbanisation, Hoi An will become less and less attractive to tourists and the local tourism industry will not be able to continue its development,” Phung said. “The main objective of this project is to enable the development of the local tourism industry and diversify tourism services on offer in Hoi An and surrounds,” he added.

According to the project on preserving Hoi An ancient town, the province will call on local residents and private companies to participate in preservation activities. In the first phase of the project, about 700 ancient houses will be upgraded. The province will also upgrade the wharves at the ancient port, along with preserving and developing the traditional craft villages surrounding the town.

A buffer zone will be created between Hoi An ancient town and surrounding areas in order to mitigate the impact of urbanisation on the town. Improving local infrastructure, especially transport infrastructure, is another important part of the project.

VietNamNet//VIR