On Wednesday, at the ongoing 2^nd session of the Da Nang People’s Council (PCl) in its 9^th tenure of the 2016 - 2021 term, Chairman of the municipal War Veterans’ Association Huynh Minh Chuc suggested that stricter penalties should be imposed on individuals who have adversely affected the local tourism environment.  Included are foreign tour guides who either operate illegally in the city or give out inaccurate information about Viet Nam’s history and geography to their compatriots during their stay in the locality. 

Secretary Anh (3rd right) and some PCl deputies

In addition, Chairman Chuc asked the city authorities to set up a local tourism police force to ensure a friendly and civilised local tourism environment.

Also at the event, the Deputy Director of the Department of Police, Mr Le Thanh Hai raised his concerns about the management of local tourism activities.  In reply, the Director of the municipal Department of Tourism, Mr Ngo Quang Vinh, remarked that his unit has taken strong measures to deal with illegal tourism activities in the city.

Mr Vinh said, “Between January and June, the city welcomed 211,000 and 217,000 visitors from China and South Korea respectively.  In attempting to ensure the local healthy tourism environment my department has increased its checks and monitoring over Chinese and South Korean individuals, and travel agencies suspected of conducting illegal tourism activities in the city”.

He also remarked that stricter penalties had been imposed on any local Vietnamese travel agencies, hotels, and tour guides for colluding with the city-based foreign tourism companies to carry out illegal tourism activities. 

Also, importance had been attached to keeping a close eye on foreign tour guides who have been fined or warned for their first violations, and they will be deported from the city if they are found to be repeating illegal acts.

The Deputy Chief of Staff of the municipal Border Guard High Command, Mr Tran Cong Thanh, stressed the need for the municipal Department of Tourism to develop a long-term strategy for the development of river tourism.

In reply, Director Vinh remarked that his department would develop more tourism services along the banks of the Han River and create more anchoring areas for tourist boats, as well as upgrade local wharfs for trip boats.

Municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Xuan Anh proposed that more night entertainment areas should be developed in the city in order to make Da Nang more attractive to both domestic and foreign visitors.