VietNamNet Bridge – Many travel companies want tourism to remain a conditional business sector, saying almost all the current conditions should stay, instead of being removed as stated in the draft amendments to the Tourism Law.

Foreign tourists join a cyclo tour in HCMC. Many travel companies want tourism to remain a conditional business sector to ensure the quality of services – Photo: Dao Loan

They said in order to make tourism the country’s spearhead sector, businesses should have freedom to do business, but conditions and regulations are necessary to help keep ineffective enterprises from the sector.

Vo Anh Tai, deputy general director of Saigontourist Holding Company, said those firms organizing inbound and outbound tours should meet conditions. Companies which register to operate in specific markets should meet more requirements including the number of qualified tour guides to ensure the quality of services.

“It is not reasonable to allow travel agencies to operate like normal enterprises. In fact, many firms lack professionalism, affecting the interests of tourists and the tourism sector, so sanctions and conditions are needed to bar them.” Tai said.

The current tourism law has a number of conditions for firms which provide tourism services and sets out strict requirements for those licensed to arrange international tours.

There have been 1,555 firms licensed to arrange international tours, registering annual growth of 11% in number.

To organize tours for foreigners in Vietnam, companies must have a license for the service, certain numbers of certified tour guides, and place deposits to compensate for guests in case there are problems.

Some companies said the removal of conditions for the tourism sector may make life tough for travel firms which operate in accordance with regulations due to unhealthy competition from illegal ones.

Trinh Thi Lan Huong, general director of Vietnamtourism Company in HCMC, said despite the presence of regulations, many firms have recently triggered unhealthy competition by providing substandard services and products at lower prices.

Nguyen Van Tuan, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), said the tourism sector is in the final stage of collecting comments on the draft revision of the Tourism Law.

The National Assembly is expected to consider the draft revision of the Tourism Law in early November and give approval in May next year before it takes effect in early 2018.

SGT