The Ministry of Transportation and Communications has proposed a set of amendments to an existing tourism law that would impose heavier punishments on businesses in the sector that operate illegally, after hundreds of tourists were stranded in Vietnam earlier this year.
Amendments to the Act for the Development of Tourism (發展觀光條例) include raising the maximum fine for tourism-sector businesses, including hotel operators and travel agencies, caught damaging national dignity, acting immorally or defrauding tourists from NT$500,000 (US$15,375) to NT$1 million, the ministry said.
In addition, the fine for businesses that continue to operate despite being ordered to close would be increased from NT$500,000 to NT$2 million. The maximum fine for those operating without a license would also be raised from NT$500,000 to NT$2 million, the ministry said.
Fines for unlicensed tourism operators caught disseminating, broadcasting or publishing advertisements through any form of media, including television and the Internet, would increase from the NT$30,000 to NT$300,000 range to NT$60,000 and NT$1.5 million.
The proposed amendments were announced on June 20, following an incident involving 300 Taiwanese tourists who were stranded in Vietnam on a tour to Phu Quoc Island in mid-February.
The incident occurred due to a dispute over outstanding payments between Taiwan-based We Love Tour and a Vietnamese travel agency. We Love Tour was fined NT$810,000 for contravening the tourism law and the Regulations Governing Travel Agencies.
The increased fines intend to deter businesses from operating illegally or contravening laws and regulations, and would enhance the tourism sector, the ministry said.
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