Stranded Taiwanese tourists arrive at Phu Quoc International Airport on February 14, 2024 to return home. Photo by VnExpress/Hoang Dung
The Taiwan Tourism Administration announced that it has suspended travel agency We Love Tour for three months for stranding 292 Taiwanese tourists in Vietnam due to a payment dispute.
Derek Chou, its main representative in Vietnam, said VnExpress that the Taipei-based travel agency said tourists were stranded in Phu Quoc during the Lunar New Year holiday due to a “misunderstanding over payment terms with a Vietnamese travel agency.”
But Taiwanese regulations “require travel agencies to fully provide and arrange accommodation and airfare before the trip departs,” he said.
Once authorities complete their investigation, “the company could have its business license revoked or be fined,” he said.
The visitors had booked a four-day tour to the island through the company and arrived by charter flight on February 9.
When they arrived at Phu Quoc International Airport, no vehicles or hotels were waiting for them due to a payment dispute with local partner Winner International Travel Company.
After the intervention of Phu Quoc authorities and the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office, the Taiwanese company was ordered to make full payment by February 26 and the Vietnamese company was ordered to continue welcoming tourists.
They returned home on February 14 as planned.
Winner International Travel Company was fined for “violating regulations when providing travel services”, although the amount of the fine has not yet been announced by the Kien Province Tourism Department Giang, where Phu Quoc is located.
Chou said the incident was a result of the two companies’ “lack of professionalism and required further investigation.”
Friday, Taiwanese news site CNA reported that the tourism administration tried several times to contact David Lin, director of We Love Tour, but was unsuccessful.
According to Focus on TaiwanInvestigations revealed that We Love Tour was facing financial difficulties and had debts of more than NT$10 million (US$318,730).
