Following the recent trip boat tragedy in Da Nang, the operations of tourist boats in several locations across Viet Nam have been suspended for a thorough standard and safety check.

Facing the real risk that local tourism will be heavily impacted, authorities in Da Nang as well as in several other locations have been raising the standard of this type of transportation.

Border guards inspect a tourist boat in Ninh Thuan Province on June 13, 2016. (Photo: Tuoi Tre)

Re-modified fishing boats are banned

In Ninh Thuan Province, border guard officers have been conducting regular inspections on tourist boats taking passengers to a local island and other coastal destinations.

Following the trip boat overturn in Da Nang, the Ninh Thuan People’s Committee has ordered local border guards and relevant agencies to tighten inspections on the safety standard of the vessels, pursuant to the Prime Minister’s direction.

Meanwhile, the Da Nang People’s Committee has announced that ships that meet all the standards and safety requirements set by authorities will be able to provide tours for visitors, resulting in many operators waiting anxiously for their inspection results during the shutdown of operations.

Waterway tourism has been affected by the incident, one tourist ship captain said, adding that many travelers had canceled their sightseeing tours along the Han River.

Building new ships, tightening safety standards

Phan Van Anh Vu, the Chairman of a firm in Da Nang, has proposed building or importing 20 tourist boats, at a cost of between VND3 billion (US$134,400) and VND5 billion ($224,000), to replace the re-modified fishing ships, and help restore local waterway tourism.

Nearly 100,000 tourists have used waterway transport services in Da Nang during the first 6 months of this year, Vu stated, adding that shutting down the activities of the upgraded fishing boats would cause huge potential losses to local tourism.

It is necessary to invest in new, modern ships to continue previous operations and exploit new routes and destinations in the future, he added.

According to Mr Huynh Duc Tho, the Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, it would be difficult for local operators to afford the ships due to their cost.

Tho proposed that the expenses be funded by the private sector, adding that authorities would provide favorable policies for investors.

In Khanh Hoa Province, authorities are scheduled to conduct a thorough inspection on local passenger boats and deal with any deemed substandard, said Mr Nguyen Xuan Manh, the Deputy Chief Inspector from the provincial Department of Transport.

(Source: Tuoitrenews)