VietNamNet Bridge – The maximum fine for travel companies that operate without the correct licence will increase from VND30 million ($1,400) to VND40 million (US$1,900) under a new draft decree drafted by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

The decree has been submitted to the Government for approval.

Fines for unqualified staff would also go up from VND5 million ($243) to VND7 million ($340), and tour guides would face a VND5-10 million ($243-486) instead of VND2-3 million ($97-145) for failure to produce the necessary documentation.

Viet Nam Society of Travel Agents Chairman Vu The Binh said the move was a positive one to tighten control over tourism following recent tragic waterway accidents.

The draft decree was expected to perfect and remedy any shortcomings in the old one, and allow inspectors to get on with their jobs, he said.

It is also aimed at protecting individuals and organisations who legitimately operate in the tourism sector.

According to the ministry, the old decree needed to be changed and supplemented because new problems had appeared that were not covered by the original.

Tran Ngoc Ha, a tour guide from the Ha Noi-based Asiana Travel Company said: "I think the higher fine may deter more owners from violating tourism industry regulations."

Statistics from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism showed that the ministry had fined 94 organisations and 30 individuals nearly VND970 million ($47,100) from 2008-10, but provincial Departments of Culture, Sports and Tourism had collected over VND22 billion ($1million) from 1,729 organisations and 2,125 individuals in the same period.

VietNamNet/Viet Nam News