Providing Hue tourism information to tourists as soon as cruise ships dock at Chan May Port.

Many tricks

Recently, the Venada Lagoon Resort & Spa fanpage once again posted a warning about impersonation to inform partners and customers. According to the warning, many individuals are currently impersonating the resort and exploiting its reputation and image. These individuals offer super-discounted prices and attractive bundled services to lure customers and demand a 100% upfront payment.

Searching on social media, we found several very similar Venada Lagoon Resort & Spa fan pages; the information and images were almost identical and easily misleading for customers. Notably, the fake fan page still had a very high number of likes and followers, and many posts were advertised to reach more Facebook users. Without knowing about the official fan page, many people probably wouldn't realize that these were fake pages.

Venada Lagoon Resort & Spa warns against fake fanpages used for scams.

According to representatives from the Department of Tourism, in recent times, fraud and property theft in the tourism sector, especially online booking scams, have been on the rise. These online scams, which involve areas under the department's management such as false or misleading advertising about business capabilities and product/service availability, have led to numerous negative consequences, disrupting security and order and damaging the image of the tourism industry.

Scammers are creating fake websites and fan pages impersonating reputable tourism businesses, using deceptive tactics like fake discounts and promotions, and demanding upfront deposits to swindle money from people. This negatively impacts the image of Hue's tourism industry and causes public outrage.

A representative from the Department of Tourism stated that, despite repeated interventions by authorities and intensified public awareness campaigns and warnings, the scammers' tactics are highly sophisticated, and some tourists are easily lured into these traps due to their desire for cheap services.

Be proactive and vigilant.

According to Tran Thi Hoai Tram, Director of the Department of Tourism, in response to the increasing number of fraudulent activities in the tourism sector, the Department recently issued a document on preventing, deterring, and handling online fraud in the tourism sector to tourism service businesses in the city. This aims to further strengthen measures to prevent, deter, and handle fraudulent acts, protect the legitimate rights of tourists and the reputation of the tourism industry, and enhance the responsibility and awareness of tourism businesses, as well as the public and tourists.

The scammers create fake booking forms to trick customers into making advance payments.

One of the top solutions the Department of Tourism recommends that agencies, units, and tourism businesses implement is to strengthen communication with tourists, tourism service businesses, and the public to raise awareness about new forms and methods of fraud in the tourism sector; advise people to carefully research information about tourism service providers in general and accommodation establishments in particular before booking services and making payments; and only book services on official websites and fan pages of tourism service businesses provided by local tourism management agencies or through reputable booking platforms.

In addition, the Department of Tourism also requested units to strengthen inspection and supervision work, promptly detect and handle violations according to the law; receive and promptly resolve related letters and complaints from citizens within their authority; coordinate with functional agencies to regularly review and block fake websites and fanpages, and at the same time strictly handle those who engage in fraudulent activities.

To provide accurate information to visitors, the Department of Tourism requests that agencies, units, and businesses provide the Department with information on registered tourism service businesses in the area so that residents and tourists can be aware of and book services; at the same time, they should cooperate in updating complete information on local tourism service providers to the Department of Tourism for publication on the Department's website (https://sdl.hue.gov.vn).

According to the head of the Department of Tourism, the Department has also requested tourism service businesses in the city to enhance their sense of responsibility in protecting customers; regularly review and promptly detect fake information platforms and social media pages impersonating their tourism service businesses; proactively coordinate with competent authorities to promptly resolve and handle related cases; and refrain from spreading or exploiting false information about tourism service businesses to attract tourists. They are also urged to strengthen security measures to prevent intrusion and impersonation; and to provide information on official websites, fan pages, and social media platforms to the Department of Tourism to improve the identification of official fan pages and websites and prevent impersonation.

Furthermore, businesses need to comply with legal regulations on pricing, strictly adhere to regulations on price registration and listing, and sell at the listed price; prevent arbitrary price increases, harassment, and coercion of customers, which negatively impact the image of tourism; detect, prevent, and resolutely handle individuals who pester or harass tourists; and ensure sufficient staff to guide and assist tourists. They should promote civilized behavior in tourism, ensure that tourists are guided according to schedule and within the allotted time, and provide excellent service to visitors.

Besides the responsibilities of the State management agency for tourism, units and businesses also need to publicly display the hotline number of Hue city's tourism industry (hotline: 0234.3828288) in a visible location, so that tourists can call when they need information or assistance.

According to the Head of the Department of Tourism, the Department has assigned the Tourism Operations Division to coordinate with the Department's Office and relevant units to inspect the implementation. The local tourism industry also hopes that tourists will raise their vigilance and proactively take preventive measures to avoid falling into the traps of scammers.

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Source: https://huengaynay.vn/du-lich/canh-giac-lua-dao-ve-du-lich-tren-khong-gian-mang-155589.html