The Hanoi Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to launch two
hotlines to clamp down on crime against foreign tourists.
The hotlines will run around the clock. Phone operators will notify
relevant authorities of any incidents reported by tourists so that they
can be promptly settled.
Additionally, hotlines run
by the municipal Police, Transport Department and Taxi Association will
also help detect and deal with any violations, especially those related
to transport, service quality and taxi fares.
The
move comes as the municipal tourism sector discovered that tourists have
been the target of theft, fraud and overcharging, especially in Dong
Da, Hoan Kiem and Ba Dinh districts during the March 30 – May 1
holidays, which has tarnished the image of the capital city in the eyes
of foreigners.
Recently, people found breaching
laws in densely populated tourist areas have been fined, but such
negative occurrences remain-VNA