Nearly 300 Taiwanese tourists stranded on Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam Travel Company fined
On February 14, 2024, stranded Taiwanese tourists arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport to take a flight back home. Photography: VnExpress/Hoang Dung
Weiner International Travel Service was fined for “violating regulations in providing travel services.” 292 Taiwanese tourists contracted by the company to serve were stranded on Phu Quoc Island.
The Tourism Bureau of Kien Giang Province, where Phu Quoc Island is located, has not announced the amount of the fine.
The Phu Quoc Island-based company signed a contract with Taiwanese travel company We Love Tour on September 12 last year.
On January 18, after receiving a deposit of NT$700,000 (US$22,317), the Vietnamese company sent an offer to its Taiwanese partner. However, the two sides subsequently failed to reach agreement on a price.
On January 31, Vietnam Travel Agency issued a notice to the partner to stop providing services, but no confirmation or response was received.
Although cooperation was stopped, the deposit was still retained.
On February 9, this group of Taiwanese tourists arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport. There were no vehicles or hotels waiting there.
We Love Tour representatives contacted Vietnamese companies to take care of tourists.
The Vietnamese company requires an additional $720 per person.
We Love Tour requires members to pay, keep the invoice, and return it when they return to Taiwan. However, only 90 people agreed.
The Kien Giang Provincial Tourism Bureau stated that Winner violated regulations when providing tourism services. “Despite unilaterally terminating the contract, it still retained the deposit, provided services to tourist groups and collected service fees.”
Director of the Tourism Bureau Bui Quoc Thai said that he will continue to collect information and evidence to clarify issues related to the two companies’ responsibilities, which has led to the loss of tourists’ rights and affected the tourism image of Phu Quoc Island and Vietnam.
On February 14, the stranded tourists took a chartered flight back home.