Should FIEs provide outbound tours? domestic travel firms say no
Some travel firms have expressed disappointment about the latest draft version of the amended Tourism Law, which removes the regulation on allowing foreign-invested enterprises to organize outbound tours. The current Tourism Law does not allow FIEs to provide the services. A hope arose among foreign travel firms when the previous draft version said FIEs would be able to organize tours for people to travel abroad. “The holding company in Japan wants to organize tours for Vietnamese travelers. The fifth draft version released last year still mentioned this. But it has been removed in the latest version. We really are disappointed about the decision,” deputy director of a joint venture said. Many joint ventures, especially ones between Vietnam and Asian partners, have been organizing tours abroad. However, they have been doing this by dodging the laws. Vietnamese sell tours, while foreign partners organize tours and provide services.
