Meeting on solutions for management and optimization of Mountain Angel Eye

Mountain Angel Eye, a site of outstanding geological and natural landscape values in Non nuoc Cao Bang Geopark, has been appealing to national and international tourists. Mountain Angel Eye was recognized as a National beauty spot by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism under the Decision number 1988/QĐ-BVHTTDL dated June 29^th, 2021. However, there are some urgent issues in the management and promotion of the site that require solutions, namely environmental issues, degraded transportation infrastructure, unmanaged tourism and service activities which have had bad impact on surrounding landscape such as camping tent hire, erecting vendor tents on holidays, uncontrolled visiting fee collection and buying and selling of land without land use rights and local competent authorities’ management, etc.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Sam Viet An, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism stressed the urgency of methodical management and exploitation of Mountain Angel Eye, addressing the problems of environmental issues, degraded infrastructure and livelihood creation.  He suggested that the People’s Committee of Quang Hoa and Trung Khanh Districts collaborate with the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism to consider effective solutions for the management and promotion of Mountain Angel Eye such as establishing a Management Board responsible for conservation and promotion of the site, infrastructure investment, and developing visiting fee collection scheme, etc.
 

At the meeting, Mrs. Chu Thi Vinh – Vice Chairwoman of the People’s Committee of Trung Khanh district agreed with the establishment of a Management Board for Mountain Angel Eye national scenic spot, and suggested that the Management Board should be under the umbrella of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the People’s Committee of Quang Hoa and Trung Khanh districts. In addition, Mrs. Chu Thi Vinh shared challenges in managing the Mountain Angel Eye geosite due to the fact that this geosite is related to both districts of Quang Hoa and Trung Khanh. The problems include inadequate parking lot, degrade and narrow road and it is difficult to build a parking lot on the side of Cao Chuong commune because of the steep terrain. The People’s Committee of Trung Khanh District also proposed some kinds of potential tourism services after the Mountain Angel Eye has been managed systematically.

Mr. Nong Van Thong – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Quang Hoa District approved the establishment of a Management Board for Mountain Angel Eye national scenic spot; and directed the People’s Committee of Quoc Toan Commune to thoroughly communicating to local people about the compliance of legal regulations of selling, buying and conveying land use, not performing unmanaged service providing activities such as setting up vendor tents in the area of Mountain Angel Eye or collecting visiting fee without permission.
 

After discussion, Truong The Vinh – Deputy Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism ended the meeting with the following tasks to be implemented: (1) Establishing a Management Board for Mountain Angel Eye national scenic spot according to either of two options:  a Management Board under the umbrella of the People’s Committee of Trung Khanh District, applying Decree No. 30/2020/NĐ-CP of the Government dated May 19^th, 2020 on Management of National Tourism Areas and Decision No. 2795/2008/QĐ-UBND dated December 8^th, 2008 of the People’s Committee of Cao Bang Province on Promulgating the Regulations on decentralization of management of historical - cultural relics and scenic spots in Cao Bang Province, Article 5, accordingly, the People’s Committee of Trung Khanh District is responsible for the establishment of a Management Board for Mountain Angel Eye, and generating coordination statutes between the People’s Committee of Trung Khanh District and the People’s Committee of Quang Hoa District or establishing a Management Board under the umbrella of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism; (2) building new parking lots in both directions of Ban Dan hamlet, Quoc Toan Commune (Quang Hoa District) and Cao Chuong Commune (Trung Khanh District); (3) People’s Committee of Quang Hoa and Trung Khanh Districts will work with local people on the establishment of Cooperatives providing tourist services such as: transport, food, camping, environmental activities, etc. with the participation of local people, the People’s Committee of the two Districts will develop coordination statutes between local governments and Cooperatives, and sign the contracts with the Cooperatives; (4) setting up protected zone markers of the Mountain Angel Eye scenic spot and popularizing the regulations on relic protected area, permitted and unpermitted activities within the protected area, and Geopark landscapes’ protected area according to UNESCO guidelines; (5) Defining locations for service providing activities such as camping, vendor tents matching with regulations of the cultural heritage law, UNESCO expert’s recommendations and ensuring the harmony of landscape.