Traffic police officers guide a car to parking space near the Hung Kings Temple (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Local tourism departments and travel companies across Vietnam have been requested to augment efforts to ensure absolute safety for tourists as national holidays come in the next few weeks.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) said on April 6 that the number of people on holiday in domestic and foreign destinations is forecast to rise sharply, given there are many days off for the death anniversary of the Hung Kings – the legendary founders of Vietnam – in April, the South Liberation and National Reunification Day (April 30), and May Day.
The ministry has asked its provincial departments to ensure that local travel agencies and the management boards of places of interests gear themselves up to serve visitors as best as possible.
To guarantee tourists’ safety, they have to install warning signs and ready rescue forces at necessary areas, tighten control to prevent possible fires, and hasten anti-epidemic measures.
Tourism service prices also need to be stabilised, the MCST said, adding that relevant agencies should inspect the quality of all tourism services, including transport, accommodation, catering and shopping, and strictly handle violations.
Additionally, radical actions must also be taken to ensure safe food as the national holidays fall on the action month for food safety from April 15 to May 15.
Regarding Khanh Hoa province and Ho Chi Minh City, which have reported two Zika cases, the MCST told them to update the virus development in Vietnam and guide tourists in how to prevent Zika virus infection.
Though the Ministry of Health has raised the alert for the virus, it has yet to issue travel warning since Zika is classified as a group-B arbovirus which is not very dangerous, except for pregnant women, according to the WHO, the MCST noted.-VNA
