VietNamNet Bridge – All 15 shops and business centres dedicated to serving only Chinese tourists in Ha Long City, Quang Ninh Province were closed by the local people’s committee, according to online newspaper zing.vn.

A souvenir shop in Tuan Chau Ward, Ha Long City is forced to close on Sunday.

Zing.vn reported that on April 1 the advertising boards of all shops and centres were dismantled.  

Earlier on March 31, Ha Long City People’s Committee sent an urgent message to Quang Ninh Province Tourism Union and ward-level people’s committees to direct relevant offices to work with local authorities to force the shops to close by 1pm on March 31.

The 15 shops and business centres fell short of standards on quality for serving tourists specified in the province’s temporary management regulations on business tours, according to the city’s People’s Committee.

Earlier, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc asked vice chairperson of the Quang Ninh Province People’s Committee Vu Thi Thu Thuy to inspect souvenir shops and business centres which, according to local media reports, advertised as “only serving Chinese tourists” in the city.

On March, 30, Quang Ninh Province’s Tourism Department announced that it would withdraw licences of the 15 aforementioned shops and centres.    

The city’s People’s Committee has asked authorities of wards to re-examine the granting of land-use licences for these shops and centres, and inspect agencies which organised tours for Chinese visitors.  

Quang Ninh Province’s Tourism Department reported that tourism inspectors have issued 43 fines for violations of travel business regulations since early this year. 

VNS