After the news that Vneshtorgbank (VTB) will grant a US$ 7 million loan to Lanta-Tur so that the bankrupted tour operator can settle its debts in foreign countries like the Czech Republic, Thailand, India and Vietnam last Tuesday, the atmosphere has livened up in its partner resorts in Mui Ne, and Phan Thiet City, in the coastal province of Binh Thuan.
Some tourists went out to the resort’s restaurant to have breakfast after not showing up for days.
Tran Nhi Binh, assistant manager at Bamboo Village resort in Mui Ne, said there are currently 25 Lanta-Tur customers staying in 13 rooms in the resort. The tourists’ livesare back to normal now, instead of spending time grouped up, checking the news on the internet as they were a couple days ago.
According to Binh, although the problem may lead to financial damage for many companies involved in the Mui Ne tourism industry, resorts here have handled the situation well and even treated Lanta-Tur customers better than normal in order to protect the image of the popular beach destination among Russian tourists.
Sergey Zagrodniy, who bought a tour from Lanta-Tur in Moscow (Russia), said he and his friends were planning to visit the sand dunes in Mui Ne last Sunday but their tour guide did not show up. Later, he learned about the suspension of Lanta-Tur in Russia and its overseas branches.
Over the past three days, Zagrodniy stayed in his room watching TV or went to the hotel lounge. He regretted his precious time spent in Mui Ne because he could not go out and explore.
Although the resort staff treated him well, Zagrodniy considered himself a burden to them since Lanta-Tur has left many unsolved problems to their partners.
Only on Wednesday, when the Russian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Vladimir Borisovich Klimov announced that Lanta-Tur will be granted a loan to pay off debts in foreign countries including Vietnam, Zagrodniy and his friends could feel relief.
“This is the most memorable trip in my life,” he concluded.
Zagrodniy and his friends will continue their holiday until February 8 as agreed in the contract.
Last Thursday, Lanta-Viet, the local branch of Lanta-Tur, announced to their partner resorts and customers that they have set up a hotline to respond to inquiries regarding the recent issue.
Also on Thursday, 12 Russians left Ho Chi Minh City as their vacation concluded. There are currently 110 tourists among 309 Lanta-tur customers remaining in Mui Ne resorts, according to Nguyen Van Khoa, chairman of the Binh Thuan Tourism Association.
Lanta-Tur Voyach is one of the leading Russian tour operators, working with more than 6000 agencies in Russia, Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, and the Baltic region. Due to financial problems, the Russian-based headquarters halted operations on January 27, causing thousands of their customers to be stranded in India, Thailand and Vietnam.
