Russian tourists stuck in Binh Thuan supported to go home

After Lanta-Tur Voyazh, one of the leading Russian tour operators, halted its operation on January 27, thousands of its customers were reported to be stuck in some countries including Viet Nam.
According to the Consulate General of Russia in HCM City, Lanta-Tur Voyazh brought 309 Russian customers to Viet Nam where their local partner, Lanta Viet, took responsibility to organize the tours as agreed in the contract. However, those tourists were stuck in the tourist area of Mui Ne, Binh Thuan province after the suspension of Lanta-Tur Voyazh.
On January 31, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism sent leaders of Travel and Hotel Departments to the province to coordinate with Binh Thuan People’s Committee, Russian diplomatic agencies and tourism busineses in the area to address the problem.
Vietnamese Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Mr. Hoang Tuan Anh, has previously directed the VNAT to focus on facilitating local tourism businesses who got involved in the situation and taking good care of Lanta-Tur’s customers.
“Facing the difficulty, Vietnamese tourism businesses have shown their hospitality, professional skills and warm treatment towards the tourists. The VNAT will closely coordinate with the tourism businesses to tackle the problem”, said Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Deputy Director of VNAT’s Travel Department.
Hotels and resorts in the area have seriously observed the local authorities’ requirement of facilitating Russian tourists to come back home or continue their contracted tours while not lowering service quality as a result of Lanta-Tur Voyazh’s suspension.
Mr. Nguyen Thanh Tam, Vice Chairman of Binh Thuan People’s Committee, said the Consulate General of Russia in Viet Nam will take the responsibility to call Russian tourists to share the difficulty of Vietnamese tourism businesses by paying in full or a part of the total service costs which will be refunded by Russian Insurance when they return home. Those who are not able to afford can ask the support of the Consulate General of Russia in Viet Nam.
The Consulate General of Russia in Viet Nam officially reported, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir V. Putin has ordered functional agencies to resolve the problem, so that Russian citizens can keep up with their travels or come back home safely. The Consulate General has also worked with representatives of Vietnam Airlines, Aeroflot, S7 and Transaero and these four airliners have agreed to help bring Russian tourists home in the next few days. 
According to the Consulate General, the Russian side highly appreciates and expresses their thanks to Binh Thuan People’s Committee, the VNAT, local hotels and resorts for their prompt and sound actions and good care for Russian tourists stuck in Viet Nam. 
The province of Binh Thuan has, in recent years, become a favourite destination of Russian holiday-makers. The involvement of authorities and tourism businesses in resolving the problem in a sound and thoughtful way has shown the hospitality and determination of Vietnam tourism industry to enhance its image. Moreover, this also indicates the warm traditional relationship between the two peoples of Viet Nam and Russia.
 
Truyen Phuong (TITC)