The 10 adventure tour operators licensed by Lam Dong Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism are Lam Dong Tourist Company, Saigon-Madagui Company, Dalat Branch of Mao Hiem Viet Company, Viet Challenge Tour Company, PTA Venturous Co Ltd, Highlands Sports Co Ltd, Highlands Vacation Co Ltd, Viet Motion Tours Co Ltd, Dalat Adventure Co Ltd and Tac Ke Xinh Co Ltd.

The companies, which are all based in Lam Dong, can arrange adventures such as crossing Datanla and Dasar waterfalls by zipline, kayaking on Da Don River in Lam Ha District, boating in Tuyen Lam Lake, and crossing a bamboo bridge.

Nguyen Tien Hai, deputy director of the department, said tour guides in charge of adventure tours at these companies must have practicing certificates.

Those travel companies operating adventure tours in the province without prior permission will be fined, Hai said and recommended travelers choose these approved firms.

The province has got tough on adventure tours after some fatal accidents. There is no data on adventure tourists but this form of travel has grown popular in the province, said Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, deputy director of Lam Dong Province’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

In the first half of this year, there were 2.4 million tourists coming to Lam Dong, up 11% year-on-year.

SGT