Limiting street vending: Good practice in Nghi Huong

(Baonghean) - Nghi Huong is the central ward of Cua Lo Town, with 5 km of coastline. The ward has 1,800 households, 7,000 people, mainly engaged in business and tourism services, with an average income per capita in 2013 of over 30 million VND; the ward has only about 5% of poor households. The ward has 200 restaurants and kiosks serving tourists.

Implementing the 5 no's policy (no price gouging; no stalking or soliciting customers; no massages or street vending; no damaging the environment; no disturbing public order and security), before the tourist season each year, the ward requires all households and restaurant and kiosk owners to sign a commitment to comply with and not violate the "5 no's" regulations. At the same time, the ward organizes training on cultural behavior and ensuring food hygiene and safety for the residents.limitParticipants in business activities, tourism services, certification for those who complete the training course.

To limit the phenomenon of street vending, Nghi Huong has coordinated many solutions such as increasing patrols, inspections, and handling street vendors by reminding or making records, and confiscating some of their tools. The problem of street vending is related to the livelihood of the poor, so the handling cannot be too drastic. It is important to understand the cause and handle it from the root. Therefore, the ward has planned 15 kiosks with preferential fees to distribute to poor households to do business. The planning, allocation of kiosks and fee collection are public and democratic.

Regarding the responsibility of the tourism management team, Nghi Huong ward has clearly defined and selected enthusiastic and responsible people. Team members take turns to be on duty along the main business routes, promptly handling violations. The phone numbers of the tourism management team and the ward police are publicized, receiving feedback from residents and tourists. Thanks to that, the security and order situation in the area is guaranteed, especially the situation of street vendors has been greatly limited compared to before.

In my opinion, from Nghi Huong's approach, in addition to propaganda and mobilization measures, signing commitments and handling violations, Cua Lo needs to have solutions to create conditions for poor people to trade, do business and share profits from tourism business.

Tran Quang Dai