Binh Thuan maintains its reputation as a safe and friendly tourist destination

The conference organized by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism was attended by officials and experts of the Government and 63 provinces/cities across the country, including Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh – Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as well as leaders of relevant ministries and agencies.

Along with 7 other provinces/cities delivered speeches at the conference, Binh Thuan gave a lecture emphasizing measures to stabilize tourism service prices in the locality. According to Mr. Ngo Minh Chinh- director of Binh Thuan provincial Department of Culture - Sports and Tourism, the social environment for tourism activities in the locality has been basically ensured. Mui Ne-Phan Thiet tourist area has gradually affirmed its brand-name, and Binh Thuan is one of the mostpopular destinations for domestic and foreign visitors. However, to maintain sustainable growth of Vietnam tourism, the whole sector as well as the localities must put an end to a number of problems persisting in Vietnam’s tourism industry. Tourists, especially foreign tourists, are often overcharged or defrauded in Vietnam. This topic is extremely pressing and worth caring about, cited by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan. Mr. Nhan emphasized that most of the localities need to take responsibilities for ending such troubles to enhance tourism environment.

Binh Thuan is considered as one of the safe and friendly places for tourists. During vacations, peak tourist seasons or occasions timed to coincide with significant events, the prices of commodities and services have been stabilized. In comparison to low seasons, accommodation prices raise very slightly. Only prices of rooms in one-star hotels and resorts or guest-houses have been lifted to an acceptable hike (about 30 to 50 percent). Services related to food and drinks only surge by 20 to 30 percent, travel costs hardly increase on tourist seasons. Generally, tourism price hike is not widespread in Binh Thuan, except price of some fresh and alive seafood

The report of Binh Thuan tourism also stated that, most of local travel businesses attach special importance to preserving their own brand names and reputation amid harsh competition among travel enterprises. A number  of measures have been implementing to ensure public order for tourism activities. Basing on plenty of natural and climatic advantages, diversified tourism products have been formed in Binh Thuan to meet demands of both domestic and foreign travellers in all time.

Due to drawbacks of transportation, Binh Thuan authorities must make every effort to build up a tourist destination with tourism products, which are original and different from ones in other tourist centers in Vietnam. Moreover, local sector always pays attention to maintaining a safe and reliable social environment for tourists. Authorities at all levels always attach special importance to disseminating the momentous role and position of tourism industry for the entire economy and society; promoting public awareness of positive impacts on people’s living by tourism activities and negative impacts on tourism by people’s daily activities.

Binh Thuan provincial People’s Committee recently promulgated Direction No. 29/CT-UBND on ensuring tourism environment in the province, focusing on responsibility of authorities at all levels, relevant departments and agencies for ensuring public order, environmental sanitation, food safety and hygiene and stable price in tourist services. The Direction’s aim is to maintain Binh Thuan as a secure, reliable and friendly tourist center.     

Binh Thuan tourism has made some proposals, including an offer to Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on establishing a special security force responsible for immediately dealing with tourists’ complaints about being overcharged and defrauded, or buying products with poor quality.

Phuong Lan (Source: Binh Thuan newspaper)