Fraud and property appropriation in the tourism industry, especially through online booking fraud, are becoming increasingly common. Fraudsters often create websites and fan pages impersonating reputable tourism establishments, using many tricks of discounts, fake promotions, asking customers to transfer deposits... to appropriate people's money. This not only negatively affects the image of the tourism industry but also causes public outrage.
On February 12, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism sent a document to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Tourism of provinces and centrally run cities, requesting them to strengthen the prevention, suppression and handling of fraudulent acts of appropriating assets on cyberspace in the tourism sector.
Implementing the Prime Minister's Official Dispatch dated December 23, 2024 on strengthening the prevention, suppression and handling of fraudulent activities of appropriating assets using high technology, in cyberspace; to continue to strengthen measures to prevent, suppress and handle fraudulent acts, protect the legitimate rights of tourists and the reputation of the tourism industry, raise the responsibility and awareness of tourism businesses as well as of people and tourists, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism requests that local tourism management departments pay attention to the following.
Firstly, strengthen propaganda to tourism service businesses and people about new forms and tricks of fraud in the tourism industry.
It is recommended that people carefully research information about tourism service providers in general and tourist accommodation establishments in particular before booking services and making payment transactions.
You should only book services through official websites and fanpages of tourism businesses licensed by local tourism management agencies, or use reputable service booking platforms.
Second, it is necessary to strengthen inspection and examination work to promptly detect and handle violations according to the provisions of law. At the same time, promptly receive and resolve petitions and complaints from citizens according to authority, coordinate with competent agencies to regularly review and prevent fake websites and fanpages, and strictly handle subjects with fraudulent behavior.
In addition, local tourism management departments promote the provision of information on registered tourism service establishments in the area, helping people and tourists easily access and book services, and coordinate to fully update information on local tourism service establishments into the database system of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, in order to officially and widely announce nationwide.
Local tourism service establishments are required to raise their sense of responsibility in protecting customers; regularly review and promptly detect information platforms and social networking sites that impersonate their establishments; proactively coordinate with competent authorities to promptly handle and resolve related incidents; and not spread or take advantage of false information about the establishment to attract tourists' attention.
Strengthen the application of security measures, prevent intrusion and counterfeiting; provide information about official websites, fanpages and social networking platforms to local Departments of Tourism to enhance the recognition of official fanpages and websites and avoid counterfeiting.
