Sobetsu Park in Hokkaido. — Photo camnhannhatban.vn

HCM CITY — Japan has prohibited eight Vietnamese travel firms from applying for visas for Vietnamese tour groups for “seriously violating commitments” without providing details.

The Japanese embassy in Hà Nội said on Monday (July 1) it had accredited them to apply for visas on behalf of tourists.

The seven, all Hà Nội-based, are VIETTOURIN, Vietnam Golden Team International Travel, Nam Cường Tourism, New Royal Commercial and Services, International Golden Bridge, Victoria Investment Trade and Tourism Corporation, and Hà Nội Entertainment Services Corporation.

Besides, the Hà Nội branch of Vietnam Travel and Marketing Transports JSC (Vietravel Hà Nội) has been suspended for six months from July 1.

The embassy allows some travel companies which meet some certain standards to represent tourists who go on organised tours to apply for their visas.

In the first four months of this year, 178,000 Vietnamese tourists visited Japan, a year-on-year increase of 30 per cent, according to the Japan National Tourism Organisation.

Last year, Việt Nam was the fastest growing tourism market of Japan, with more than 389,000 Vietnamese visiting that country. — VNS