VietNamNet Bridge – Many tourists support centers will be set up nationwide, especially in localities welcoming one million tourists or more each year, to assist tourists in case of need.

A female volunteer (L) helps tourists cross a street in HCM City.

According to the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), support centers will have a hotline number and staff who can speak foreign languages to help handle tourists’ problems around the clock.

A hotline number, which is tentatively 119, will be soon announced so that tourists can call when they have any problems.

The establishment of tourist support centers in localities having the high number of tourists received consent from former Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan at a meeting with relevant agencies in mid-2013 on ensuring safety for tourists.

Cities like Danang and HCMC have taken many measures to protect tourists but there are still complaints about tourists being disturbed and robbed.

The Prime Minister has recently approved a decree on administrative fines, under which those disturbing and harassing tourists into buying products and services will be fined VND1-3 million.

According to VNAT, Vietnam will welcome around 7.4 million international tourists this year, 200,000 higher than the year’s target.

Besides, HCMC is preparing to welcome the four millionth tourist coming to the city and expects to have around 4.1 million international arrivals this year, according to the HCMC Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Source: SGT