Mong Cai city in the northern province of Quang Ninh has allowed certain travel companies to provide tours of the city for Chinese tourists with border passes on a trial basis.

People wait for their procedures to be processed at the Mong Cai border gate.

The scheme will be piloted from December 15, 2015 to December 31, 2016.

The eight designated travel agencies are said to have met the criteria for supplying tours of Mong Cai to Chinese visitors with border passes as set by the municipal People’s Committee.

The pilot scheme aims to improve the State’s management of the tourism sector and the sense of responsibility among travel companies that supply tours to border pass users, ultimately promoting local tourism and developing Mong Cai into an attractive destination for foreign visitors.

The move is made in response to a jump in unmanaged tours for border pass holders in the city, which has caused unfair competition and hit local tourism.

An estimated 300 tourists with border passes visit Mong Cai every day across the 70km land and sea border it shares with China.

VNA