VI Vietnam’s tourism industry is growing strongly, leading to an increase in demand for professional travel services. To ensure service quality and the rights of tourists, the law has strictly regulated the necessary conditions for organizations and individuals who want to participate in domestic travel services business. Understanding and complying with these regulations is not only a legal obligation but also a solid foundation for businesses to operate stably, effectively and sustainably. Conditions on capital, professional personnel, deposits, and procedures for granting Business Licenses are core issues that every investor needs to carefully research before starting. Let’s learn about these regulations with Pham Consult.
- Conditions for conducting domestic travel business
Travel business is the construction, sale and organization of a part or the whole of a tourism program for tourists. Travel business includes domestic travel business and international travel business.
Domestic travel business is serving domestic tourists. According to the provisions of Clause 1, Article 37 of the 2017 Law on Tourism, enterprises wishing to register for domestic travel business must meet the following conditions:
– Being an enterprise established in accordance with the provisions of the law on enterprises;
– Depositing a deposit for domestic travel business at a bank;
– The person in charge of travel business must have a college degree or higher in travel; in case of a college degree or higher in another major, a certificate of professional training in domestic tourism management is required. The person in charge of travel business is the person holding one of the following positions: Chairman of the Board of Directors; Chairman of the Board of Members; Chairman of the Company; Owner of a Private Enterprise; General Director; Director or Deputy Director; Head of the Travel Service Business Department.
The travel major specified in Point c, Clause 1 and Point c, Clause 2, Article 31 of the Law on Tourism is shown on the diploma of one of the following majors, occupations, and specialties:
+ Tourism and travel service management;
+ Travel management;
+ Tour operation;
+ Tourism marketing;
+ Tourism;
+ Travel tourism;
+ Tourism management and business;
+ MICE tourism management;
+ Travel agency;
+ Tour guide;
+ Majors, occupations, and specialties that show one of the phrases “travel”, “travel”, “tour guide” and are trained and granted a diploma by an educational institution in Vietnam before the effective date of this Circular;
+ The major, profession, or major that includes one of the phrases “tourism”, “travel”, or “tour guide” is trained and awarded by a foreign training institution.
In case the graduation certificate does not include the majors, professions, or majors specified in Point l and Point m of this Clause, the graduation transcript or diploma appendix must include the major, profession, or major, including one of the phrases “tourism”, “travel”, or “tour guide”.
In addition, the diploma awarded by a foreign training institution must be recognized according to the provisions of the law on education, higher education, and vocational education.
- Application for a Domestic Travel Business License
Pursuant to Clause 1, Article 32 of the 2017 Law on Tourism, the application for a Domestic Travel Business License includes the following documents:
(i) Application for a Domestic Travel Business License according to the form prescribed by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism;
(ii) Certified copy of the Business Registration Certificate;
(iii) Certificate of deposit for travel business;
(iv) Certified copy of the appointment decision or labor contract between the travel business enterprise and the person in charge of travel business;
(v) Certified copy of diploma or certificate of the person in charge of the travel service business as prescribed in Point c, Clause 1, Article 31 of the 2017 Law on Tourism.
- Procedures for requesting a Domestic Travel Service Business License
Step 1: Submitting documents
Enterprises requesting a Domestic Travel Service Business License prepare and submit 01 set of documents to the provincial tourism authority where the enterprise is headquartered.
Step 2: Reviewing documents
Within 10 days from the date of receiving valid documents, the provincial tourism authority shall appraise and issue a Domestic Travel Service Business License to the enterprise; in case of refusal, a written notice must be given stating the reasons.
