The Nha Trang Tourism Association has formed a “welcome club” to serve the increasing number of Chinese visitors to the popular resort city in the central coastal province of Khanh Hoa.

Khanh Hoa Province plans to form a committee of travel agencies to better serve Chinese tourists. 

More than 20 travel agencies that serve Chinese visitors met earlier this week to attend a discussion with authorities on club personnel and operations, according to Lam Anh Duy Cuong, president of the tourism association.

Between 2010 and 2016, Khanh Hoa Province welcomed 4.2 million international tourists, mostly Chinese nationals.

In January, the number of international visitors to the province was 163,000, up 180 per cent year-on-year.

Of the number,102,000 tourists were from China, up 374 per cent compared to the same period last year.

However, among 230 travel agencies in the province, only 66 are able to serve the Chinese market.

Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy president of the tourism association, said that a club dealing with issues related to the increasing number of Chinese visitors was needed, but detailed plans on how to run the club had yet to be discussed.

In recent years, more Chinese nationals have been illegally working as tour guides because of the lack of Vietnamese tour guides who can speak Chinese. The Chinese guides sometimes give inaccurate information about Vietnamese history and culture to tourists.

Another issue that may be addressed by club members is the reportedly improper behaviour of some Chinese tourists at attractions across Khanh Hoa Province. 

VNS