Establish a hotline to receive information about scams targeting tourists.
Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hoang Tuan Anh has just requested provinces and cities to set up hotlines to receive information about tourists being extorted, scammed, robbed, etc.
On May 13th, Minister Hoang Tuan Anh requested provinces and cities to improve the capacity and effectiveness of local tourism management agencies, strengthen inter-agency coordination and guidance to inspect, detect, and thoroughly handle acts of robbery, fraud, deception, price gouging, harassment, and coercion of tourists.
Scammers soliciting charitable donations from tourists in Hanoi. Photo: Bá Đô
In particular, provinces and cities need to establish hotlines to receive, resolve, and respond to information promptly from tourists, and strengthen public awareness campaigns on civilized and courteous behavior, as well as maintaining security and environmental hygiene to promote tourism development.
In 2012, the tourism industry welcomed and served 6.8 million international visitors and 32.5 million domestic visitors, generating a total revenue of 160 trillion VND. The development of tourism has impacted many economic sectors, contributing to economic restructuring, poverty reduction, and social security.
However, the Ministry of Culture assesses that the tourism industry still has some shortcomings that are slow to be addressed. In many places, there have been incidents of theft, fraud, price gouging, overcharging, harassment, and coercion of tourists; illegal taxi and cyclo operations are not yet controlled; and many tourist destinations still lack investment in building standard restrooms for visitors.
According to (VnExpress) - LC
