Tien Sa port to allow duty-free shops and casinos
Tien Sa port to allow duty-free shops and casinos
The People’s Committee of Danang has reportedly permitted foreign cruises mooring overnight at the city’s Tien Sa port to operate duty-free shops and casinos during their stay.
The decision is slated to take effect from the middle of this month.
According to Tran Chi Cuong, deputy director of Danang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the decision came as a result of consultation with the city’s management authority.
“We have checked all relevant state regulations and found that nothing forbids foreign ships to continue certain services when mooring at Vietnamese ports. This new move aims to attract more ships to Vietnam,” Cuong was quoted by newswire dddn.com.vn.
The Danang Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism also reports that the resort-style cruiser Super Star Libra, belonging to Star Cruises, the biggest Asia-based cruise line, might be the first ship to take advantage of the regulation.
Star Cruises has earlier unveiled their plan to bring their most modern ships to Vietnam in 2016. Each of these giants can transport up to 4,500 passengers, and servicing them might contribute to Vietnam becoming a more favourable cruising destination.
In recent years, representatives from shipping companies sent repeated proposals to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT), and localities asking for a leave to maintain their services in Vietnamese ports, including casinos, cafés, and souvenir shops.
Their argument is based on entertaining passengers who choose not to disembark when ships moor at ports. Besides, when such ships stay overnight at Vietnamese ports, these services may generate extra income, while local management agencies would not need to be concerned about Vietnamese nationals boarding the ship to play casino.
According to existing regulations, a foreign ship is considered ‘foreign territory’, meaning non-passengers must fill in entry/exit forms and not every port allows this procedure.
Therefore, if the ship was allowed to offer casino services, it would not affect local residents.
Most recently, in an attempt to lure hundreds of cruises to tour Vietnam from late 2015 to 2017, representatives from Star Cruises met leaders of VNAT, and Quang Ninh and Danang city’s management to voice their aspirations.
However, except for Danang, localities and state agencies have yet to pass a decision.
In recent years, foreign visitors to Danang city through ships rose constantly with a longer stay at Tien Sa port.
Last year, more than 50,000 foreign visitors came to Danang by ship. This year, the figure is expected to double as more than 110 ships are forecast to stop over at Tien Sa port.
