The group of Taiwanese tourists boarding a flight home from Phú Quốc International Airport on February 14. — Photo nld.com.vn

HÀ NỘI — Kiên Giang Department of Tourism has announced a VNĐ30 million (US$1,200) fine on a Vietnamese travel agency involved in the case of nearly 300 Taiwanese tourists being stranded on Phú Quốc Island, a decision which the company appeals. 

According to a report by Kiên Giang tourism department, Phú Quốc-based Winner International Travel Company signed a contract acknowledgement with Taipei-based We Love Tour Company on September 12, 2023. 

On January 24 this year, Winner sent 10 quotations for 10 tourist groups to We Love Tour, but the companies failed to reach an agreement. Winner’s unilateral service termination notice was sent to We Love Tour on January 31. 

The provincial tourism department said that Winner violated regulations during tourism operations because although the contract was terminated, the company still kept the deposit of NT$700,000 ($22,300) that it received on January 18. It also provided services and collected fees from tourists during their stay in Phú Quốc. 

The department decided to impose an administrative fine of VNĐ30 million on the company. 

Speaking to Người lao động (Labourer) newspaper, Winner International Travel Company Chairman Hà Tuấn Minh said the agency disagrees with the decision and will appeal. 

According to Minh, the contract stated that if We Love Tour did not transfer the total contract value by January 31, the document would no longer be valid. Winner also sent a termination notice on this exact date, he said. 

Minh also added that the 292-person tour group, which Winner helped return home on February 14, were not part of the 10 tour quotations between Winner and We Love Tour. 

“In total, nearly 800 Taiwanese tourists were left stranded on Phú Quốc Island in recent days, not just 292 as reported in the press,” he said.

Speaking to Tri thức (Znews) magazine, Minh said that to maintain the image of Phú Quốc tourism, his agency has made an effort and provided assistance worth VNĐ3 billion ($122,300) to send the tourists home.

The penalty decision has an adverse impact on the company’s reputation, he said, adding that Winner would send an appeal letter to Kiên Giang tourism department on Friday afternoon. 

On February 9, 2024, We Love Tour’s 292-person tour group landed at Phú Quốc International Airport and was without a tour guide or tour bus. 

At this point, We Love Tour contacted Winner asking the Vietnamese company to serve the group, to which Winner agreed and provided transportation and accommodation services. 

Winner then asked the tourists to pay an additional $720 per person, as it did not receive the contract payment from We Love Tour. 

In response to Winner, We Love Tour said that it would notify the tour group members to pay the supplementary amount and keep the invoice for reimbursement. 

Winner received approximately NT$1.8 million ($57,400) in total from 90 tourists, while the rest of the group refused. 

Kiên Giang authorities and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in HCM City worked to help the tour be carried out as planned, and the group returned home on February 14. — VNS