For a safe travel season

(Baonghean) - To ensure security, order, and safety for tourists, Cua Lo town has been decisively implementing comprehensive solutions, starting from the wards and communes.

From Thu Thuy's best practices

As one of the key tourist wards in Cua Lo Town, Thu Thuy Ward currently has 120 hotels and guesthouses, one massage parlor, and hundreds of photographers and electric vehicle operators... operating regularly throughout the tourist season. Minimizing the problem of touting and harassment that disrupts security along the beach under the ward's management and at accommodation establishments is a major concern for the ward's police leadership every tourist season.

Mr. Tran Huu Mai, Head of Thu Thuy Ward Police, said: In 2013, businesses in the ward decided to establish "Safe Business Groups." This is a voluntary activity that has received positive support and participation from hundreds of businesses along the beach in the ward. To date, the entire ward has established 6 "Safe Business Groups," each attracting 10-15 participating households. Periodically, before each tourist season, the groups meet to hear the group leader explain the specific rules and regulations set forth by the town and the ward. They also evaluate and review the shortcomings of the 2013 tourist season to learn from for the 2014 season. At these meetings, any businesses with unresolved issues or concerns will also be discussed to find common ground.

Following Mr. Tran Huu Mai, we visited Mr. Nguyen Van Tam's restaurant in Block 2, Thu Thuy Ward, right next to Lan Chau Island. Mr. Tam, over 70 years old, is the leader of "Safe Business Group" No. 1. Very openly, Mr. Tam shared with us the positive effects the establishment of the "Safe Business Group" has brought to his family and the group's members. It has completely eliminated the practice of restaurants aggressively soliciting customers along the same street. For example, his "Safe Business Group" No. 1 comprises 14 restaurants side-by-side along Lan Chau beach. Before joining the "Safe Business Group," restaurant owners would aggressively solicit customers, sometimes luring customers to his restaurant only to be pulled away by a neighbor. This led to business conflicts and many unfortunate incidents, negatively impacting the town's tourism business environment. Since the establishment of the "Safe Business Group," the neighborly bonds among business owners have become stronger. The good news is that the practice of poaching customers between restaurants has completely stopped…”

To prepare for the 2014 tourist season, the "Safe Business Teams" of Thu Thuy ward held meetings and came up with solutions to address the issues of touting and price gouging of seafood, requiring restaurants to publicly display prices and serve tourists with politeness and courtesy, in line with the motto "Welcome guests with pleasure, send them off with satisfaction".

Towards comprehensive solutions

To ensure the absolute safety of tourists during their vacation in the coastal town of Cua Lo during the tourist season, the town has implemented many specific and highly feasible solutions, mobilizing the combined strength of various sectors and levels of government, and the participation of all segments of the population in ensuring security and order. With the effective advice of the police force, the town has adopted groundbreaking policies, including: issuing a plan to innovate the work of disseminating information and mobilizing the entire population to participate in crime prevention and control, and building a crime prevention model in the area. Accordingly, many crime prevention and control models have been formed and developed with practical value in social life, such as: "Neighborhoods free from crime and social vices", "Self-governing, safe, and cultured agencies and schools free from crime and social vices", "Families without children violating the law", "Women's groups without husbands or children addicted to drugs or violating the law", "Peaceful neighborhoods", "Religious communities self-governing in security and order"...

Security personnel from Thu Thuy ward (Cua Lo town) patrol the beach.

Lieutenant Colonel Ho Minh Thang – Head of Cua Lo Town Police Department, said: Every year during the tourist season, Cua Lo attracts thousands of tourists from inside and outside the province to visit, swim, and relax. Therefore, ensuring security and order is a top priority. From the beginning of the season, the Town Police Department has implemented professional training courses for local security forces. In addition, the Town Police Department has inspected businesses with security and order requirements to remind and correct their operations. Nearly 40 establishments have been inspected, and most business owners are conscious of ensuring security for their customers and themselves.

Mr. Phan Thanh Xuan - Xuan Lan Hotel - Thu Thuy Ward - Cua Lo Town, said: "As one of the long-standing hotels, we always prioritize trustworthiness. Besides providing attentive and thoughtful service to tourists, we pay close attention to ensuring the safety of our guests throughout their stay. This includes checking and guiding guests to sleep and rest according to regulations, and publicly announcing a hotline for tourists…".

With specific plans and the resolute efforts of the political systems, with the police and local security forces as the core, Cua Lo town will have a safe and orderly tourism festival, creating peace of mind and trust for tourists when they come here for vacation.

Thanh Thuy