HCMC – Lanta-Viet Travel Company has resumed operation and committed to continue to send the stranded Russian tourists in Binh Thuan back to their country in accordance with the tour schedules.
Director Ngo Minh Chinh of Binh Thuan’s Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Lanta-Viet’s director Kontantin made such a commitment to the provincial authority, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, Russian Consulate and service suppliers at the working session in Binh Thuan on Wednesday. Lanta-Viet is a joint venture between the Russian tour operator Lanta-Tur Voyage, who claimed insolvency last Friday, and a local partner.
“We have reached satisfactory agreements. The hotels and resorts also pledged to serve tourists under the originally signed programs. The rights of tourists will be exercised first, and then related parties will settle the debts,” said Chinh to the Daily.
At the meeting, a representative of Russian Consulate showed an electronic dispatch from Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on solving the problems caused by Lanta-Tur Voyage, making thousands of tourists stranded abroad.
Accordingly, the Russian government will establish a new board of directors for this travel firm, expected to start operating this weekend, and request Russia’s foreign trade bank to remedy the damages suffered by Russian tourists stranded overseas.
Lanta-Tur Voyage usually brought Russian visitors to Binh Thuan, with Lanta-Viet taking care of the tourists in Vietnam. Following the information about Lanta-Tur Voyage’s bankruptcy, Lanta-Viet’s office in Phan Thiet had suddenly been closed, and the firm’s tour guides, service staff and director had also taken flight, leaving over 300 tourists stranded in Binh Thuan.
After a few days absent in Binh Thuan, director of Lanta-Viet returned on Wednesday to work with related parties on solving the problems. As of yesterday, nearly a half of the stranded 309 Russians had returned to Russia. The remainder will depart after finishing their trips in Vietnam.
