The Ministry of Planning and Investment has approved the construction of a 490-ha safari park worth VND 1 trillion ($44.6 million) inside a protected forest in the resort city of Da Lat in Lam Dong Province.

According to park director, the government will fund 35 percent of the total cost ($15.6 million).

Highland Safari, a joint project between Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park and Da Lat Tourism, will be located in Lac Duong District.

Scheduled for completion in 2020, it will be developed as a semi-wild life park, expected to receive 1.2 million visitors a year and earn VND 300 billion ($13.4 million) in revenue.

Consultants from Austria and Singapore have been hired to study the terrain, environment and the status of rare animals in Lam Dong. They will also collect recommendations from major safari parks around the world.

Chairman of the Lam Dong People’s Committee expressed support for the project. He said that safaris were popular with tourists and that Highland Safari would benefit the local ecosystem.