Halong Bay’s elevation Friday as one of the ‘New 7 Wonders of Nature’ is revving the engines of boats across this UNESCO World Heritage Site as operators anticipate a new wave of interest in the wake of the Nov. 11 announcement.

The dramatic bay, studded with nearly 2,000 limestone karst islands over a 1,500-square kilometer expanse, won a coveted spot on the list, besting the likes of the Grand Canyon, the Maldives and Mt. Kilimanjaro.

“Halong Bay is the unimpeachable choice,” said Kurt Walter, group general manager of Apple Tree Group Hospitality, which includes Emeraude Classic Cruises on Halong Bay. “For so many years, Halong Bay was shrouded by the veil of war and strife and really, it’s only been since the 1990s that the world has started waking up to the bay’s magnificence. And now that it has, we expect to see a great deal of interest in seeing the bay first hand.”

News sources inside Vietnam state that Halong Bay expected to see 5.4 million visitors to the bay in 2011, including 2.5 million foreign travelers. Designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1994, and then again in 2000 for its geological value, the bay is Vietnam’s top tourist attraction.

“The bay’s already popular, but that’s among a certain set of travelers, people interested in cultural pursuits and really going beyond the well-trodden paths you find in places like Thailand and Bali,” said Adam Sitkoff, executive director of the American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam. “But now with this new recognition, it’s more likely that Halong Bay will move more decisively into the main currents of travelers to Southeast Asia.”

Halong Bay’s identification as one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature is “provisional,” according to the project’s oragnizer, New7Wonders. The organizers intend to formally announce the final slate at an inaugural ceremony in early 2012.

Millions cast votes for their favorite wonders, beginning in 2007. There was never any doubt that the final seven would, in part, be the winners of a popularity contest. Indeed, tourism bureaus and hotels from all over actively campaigned on their favorite’s behalf.

The Caravelle Hotel in Ho Chi Minh City, for example, campaigned for Halong Bay from its employees’ email signatures.

“What’s good for Halong Bay is good for us in Ho Chi Minh City,” said John Gardner, general manager of the hotel. “As a primary gateway to all of Vietnam, we’ve got a vested interest in the popularity of sites all over Vietnam.”

While no one’s yet reckoned an estimate of the boost in traffic to Halong Bay as a result of the recognition, many expect to see measurable gains, especially among repeat visitors.

“Unlike some destinations, Halong Bay is not one that you merely tick off a bucket list,” said Kurt Walter. “I’ve been out to the bay overnight every week for the past seven years, but the bay does not get old. You never get used to it.

Source: Ftnnews