Nguyen Van Doc said the popular northern Vietnam province wanted to generate favourable experiences for all visitors, including those from China, and all nefarious practices needed to be stopped immediately. The secretary said all violators faced heavy fines and would lose their operational licences.
Media sources in Quang Ninh and Halong Bay say the crackdown has already begun and in the past six weeks or so four travel agencies have been shut down for contravening guidelines. The allegations of misbehaviour centre on secret collaborations between tour agencies and souvenir outlets.
Authorities say tour operators sell packages at cost, but take tourists to their partner shops where they are significantly overcharged when buying souvenirs. 12GO ASIA notes that Thailand has already cracked on similar scams which were called zero-dollar tours. The name refers to the fact organisers do not make any money from the actual tour prices.
Quang Ninh Province clamps down on shady tourism businesses
News in Asia
The People’s Party in Quang Ninh Province says it has warned tour operators and souvenir shops it is clamping down on scams. The People’s Party secretary last week issued a warning that authorities would be handing down harsh penalties to agencies or shops found to have cheated tourists.