(VEN) - Those who pester tourists or force them to buy goods will be fined anywhere from VND3 million under a new government decree designed to curb various forms of harmful behavior by Vietnamese travel agencies and tour guides. The new decree aims to instill “order and discipline” in the tourism industry The recently issued Decree 45/2019/ND-CP on penalties for administrative violations in tourism also includes fines of VND10-15 million on those “who don’t cooperate with agencies and organizations in rescuing travelers”. Moreover, travel agents who employ foreign guides in Vietnam, use fake tourist guide cards or provide wrong information distorting the history and the country’s sovereignty will be fined VND90 million. A similar fine will be imposed on agents letting foreign tourists stay illegally in Vietnam. Some of the violations also carry penalties of license revocation or suspension for up to two years and seizure of their … [Read more...] about New decree cracks down on violations by travel agents
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Travel agents asked to ensure tourist safety in Egypt
The bus carrying Vietnamese tourists who were on a seven-day tour organised by Ho Chi Minh City-based travel agency Saigontourist (Photo: AFP/VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) under the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has ordered international travel companies to ensure safety for their customers following a deadly bomb attack that killed three Vietnamese tourists in Egypt on December 28. In its document No.1032/TCDL-LH, the VNAT asks the firms operating tours in Egypt to coordinate with competent authorities and partners to take security measures for their tourists. It recommends holiday-makers to avoid going to crowded and sensitive places, and travel agents to keep close watch on local authorities’ warnings. Tour operators should consider arranging itineraries to Egypt as well as keep their customers updated with the current situation. In case of emergency, the firms can seek help from the embassy through the … [Read more...] about Travel agents asked to ensure tourist safety in Egypt
Japanese travel agents conduct fact-finding tour to Thua Thien-Hue
The delegation visits the complex of Hue MonumentsThe tour is expected to develop the connection of tourism products between Thua Thien – Hue and the Japanese market. Through the tour, the central locality wishes to intensify tourism promotion of popular local destinations, helping attract more international tourists, especially from Japan. The delegation visits destinations in the complex of Hue Monuments, Thanh Tien paper flower village, Bao La craft village and Laguna Lang Co tourism area; enjoys the cuisine of Hue, and tries new tourism products like Ao Dai show and virtual reality experience (VR) or in search of the lost Royal Palace of Hue. On this occasion, the travel agents survey other hot spots in Da Nang and Quang Nam, such as Linh Ung Pagoda, Dragon Bridge, Hoi An ancient town and Vinpearl Hoi An complex./. BTA … [Read more...] about Japanese travel agents conduct fact-finding tour to Thua Thien-Hue
European travel agents to make fact-finding tour to Hanoi
Tourists visit Temple of Literature - a tourist attraction in Hanoi (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – A delegation of 25 travel agents from 12 European nations will visit Hanoi from October 4-10 in a bid to strengthen cooperation in tourism. The tour is expected to offer a chance for Vietnamese and European travel agents to meet, introduce tourism products, and intensify tourism promotion, thus helping popularise the image of Vietnam in general and the capital city in particular. The delegation is scheduled to make a fact-finding tour to tourist attractions in Hanoi and surrounding areas before participating in a meeting between Vietnamese and European travel agents. The European firms will discuss tourism products and destinations of Hanoi and Vietnam Airlines on October 10. Hanoi expects to welcome nearly 20 million tourist arrivals in the first nine months of this year, or a year-on-year rise of 9.2 percent. Of the total, foreign visitors are estimated at 4.3 million, up 20 … [Read more...] about European travel agents to make fact-finding tour to Hanoi
Hotels propose paying tax on behalf of travel agents
Hotels propose paying tax on behalf of travel agentsBy Dao Loan Foreign tourists are seen at a five-star hotel in HCMC - PHOTO: DAO LOAN HCMC - The Investment and Trade Working Group of the Vietnam Business Forum (VBF) has proposed the Ministry of Finance continue asking domestic hotels to pay tax on online hotel bookings on behalf of foreign online travel agents (OTAs). At the midterm VBF, held in Hanoi on July 4, a representative of the Investment and Trade Working Group voiced concerns over amendments to the Law on Tax Administration, including those relating to e-commerce activities. The working group said there are two unreasonable regulations that may negatively affect the tourism sector’s development if the law takes effect. The regulations ask foreign OTAs to pay value-added tax and corporate income tax in place of Vietnamese firms and to open their representative offices in Vietnam for easier tax declarations and payments. Under prevailing regulations, foreign … [Read more...] about Hotels propose paying tax on behalf of travel agents