Tourists explore a cave in Phong Nha-Kẻ Bàng National Park in Quảng Bình Province. — Photo www.vietnamtourism.com

QUẢNG BÌNH (VNS) — Businesses that overcharge tourists will have their business licences revoked, according to a Quảng Bình Province official.

Nguyễn Hữu Hoài, chairman of central Quảng Bình Province’s People’s Committee, made the announcement at a meeting with representatives of 300 travel agencies, restaurants and hotels on Sunday.

Participants at the meeting said that aggressively selling merchandise to travelers, overcharging tourists and providing inadequate infrastructure, as well as working with troublesome administrative procedures relating to tourist accommodations, are issues that need to be resolved.

Hoài noted that in the future, provincial authorities will address these shortcomings and support businesses as they work to overcome difficulties, in a bid to improve the quality of the nation’s tourism industry.

He urged tourist companies to improve the quality of services and not allow tourists to be treated unfairly in shops or be charged high prices, in general.

Hoài also asked the companies to focus on ensuring the safety of food served to tourists, and seeking out clean and green environments as tourist attractions.

Quảng Bình Province has 280 accommodation places including a 5-star hotel, two 4-star hotels, 14 restaurants that are certified to serve tourists, and 31 travel agencies.

Last year, the province welcomed 2.8 million visitors, including 65,000 international passengers. Total revenues from tourism were estimated at VNĐ3,300 billion (US$148 million) last year.

The province is expected to welcome 3.3 million domestic and 100,000 international tourists this year. — VNS