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The close cooperation among the local authorities and travel
firms, and the representatives of the Russian side in settling the trouble
caused by the bankruptcy of the Russian Lanta Tour, has helped Binh Thuan and
Vietnam’s tourism win the hearts of international travelers.
“The model of settling tourism crisis”
This is the comment of Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of the Travel
Department under the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism VNAT about the
support to the 300 Russian travelers who got stuck in Binh Thuan province since
Russian Lanta Tour got bankrupted.
Tuan himself flew to Binh Thuan on January 31, to cooperate with the Binh Thuan
local authorities to settle the problem as the representative of the state
management agency.
Nearly 100 travelers have safely returned to Russia over the past few days
thanks to the laudable efforts of the authorities and enterprises in Binh Thuan
province. This is an encouraging result if noting that thousands of Russian
travelers are still getting stuck in Thailand, India, Italia and Mexico.
Director of Lanta Tour Thai in Bangkok has been arrested by the police, and the
office of the travel firm has been demolished. Meanwhile, Lanta Vietnam in Phan
Thiet remains safe and sound.
Tuan said he himself got surprised about the quick reaction of the local
authorities. The Binh Thuan provincial people’s committee, the provincial
Department for Sports and Tourism and the provincial tourism association have
been cooperating closely with each other to find the most reasonable solutions.
Especially, the local resorts have been serving the Russian travelers well
despite the information about the bankruptcy of Lanta Tour.
At Romana, Hoang Ngoc, Seahorse, Rock Water Bay resorts, travelers have been
told that they can feel secure to stay here until the tour finishing day. Some
reports have paid a special attention to the unlucky travelers, sending letters
to everyone to reassure them and support them to use the services of the resort.
As for the travelers who decide to return to Russia, the resorts have carried
them free of charge to HCM City.
“I had a dinner with the Russian General Consulate in HCM City and the
representatives of Binh Thuan local authorities last night. He was very grateful
and expressed his satisfaction with the active support and enthusiasm of local
authorities and the professional behaviors of the resorts,” Tuan said.
The General Consulate also said that among the countries affected by the Lanta
Tour trouble, Russian travelers have got the best support in Vietnam. This can
be considered a “model” in settling tourism crisis.
The opportunity to advertise Vietnam’s tourism
The images about a country and its people can be seen most clearly in the
way how it settles the troubles.
Two or three years ago, the professionalism of Thai tourism was praised, when
Thai demonstrators explained to international tourists who got stuck at the
airports about their behaviors, and provided meals and water free to tourists.
However, in the Lanta Tour case, Russian travelers in Thailand were told that
they may be arrested because they don’t have money to pay to hotels, while
thousands of people are still waiting at the airports.
Russia is a big market for Binh Thuan which welcomes 120,000 Russian travelers
every year. Therefore, Binh Thuan local authorities well understand that it is
necessary to “take care” for the special market.
Tuan emphasized that the support travelers can receive in difficulties would be
the best advertisement about Vietnam’s tourism. A lot of Russian travelers have
said they want to stay in Binh Thuan longer and have affirmed that they would
return to Vietnam.
Nguyen Van Khoa, General Director of Ben Thanh Mui Ne travel firm, said that
three lessons have been drawn from the case. First, the Vietnamese partners need
to keep close watch over the debts. Second, in case of troubles, it’s necessary
to have the measures to reassure travelers timely. Third, it’s necessary to have
the support from the State.
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