To make Tam Coc-Bich Dong truly become a bright spot in terms of civilization, culture and safety in tourism development.

Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area is one of the most popular destinations in Ninh Binh province, in which two tourist routes are assigned to Xuan Truong construction enterprise to collect fees. In addition to investment and upgrading, the signing of labor contracts without consensus between the enterprise and the boatmen serving tourists has been a prominent issue in recent times.

The boat rowers on the Dinh Cac-Tam Coc route are mainly people from Ninh Hai commune, Hoa Lu district ( Ninh Binh ).

Recently, the Management Board of Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area has announced and decided to temporarily stop receiving visitors (with Dinh Cac-Tam Coc route) from July 9 until further notice of reopening. Visitors can choose other locations in the tourist area to build a tour schedule.

It is known that in 2012, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province decided to approve the results of the contractor selection for the toll collection package at 2 tourist routes: Dinh Cac-Tam Coc and Bich Dong-Dong Tien-Xuyen Thuy Dong, belonging to Tam Coc-Bich Dong tourist area for Xuan Truong Construction Enterprise (Xuan Truong Enterprise); implementation period is 70 years.

In addition, the People's Committee of Ninh Binh province issued a Plan (Plan No. 31/KH-UBND dated March 23, 2017) with specific tasks and solutions to overcome existing limitations and shortcomings, striving to build Tam Coc - Bich Dong tourist area into a bright spot in terms of civilization, culture and safety, in order to attract more and more tourists, contributing to sustainable socio-economic development, creating jobs, increasing income and improving the material and spiritual life of the people.

The above plan of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee also assigned Xuan Truong Enterprise to preside over, research, and rearrange the service system for tourists in each tourist destination, ensuring aesthetics and convenience; review, adjust, and supplement specific rules and regulations for those participating in ferrying, taking photos, and serving tourists.

The beauty of Tam Coc-Bich Dong seen from above (Photo: Ninh Binh Department of Tourism)

A representative of Xuan Truong Enterprise said that during this time, the enterprise is determined to arrange training and improve the skills of welcoming and receiving guests for boatmen at the tourist area. At the same time, to ensure labor safety, health, and benefits for boatmen and the safety of tourists, the enterprise has sent an official dispatch to relevant departments, agencies, and workers at the Tam Coc-Bich Dong tourist area, regarding the implementation of signing labor contracts with boatmen according to regulations. On the enterprise side, there will be specific support for both those who are eligible to sign labor contracts and those who are not eligible, in order to ensure livelihoods and harmonize the interests of all parties.

However, the signing of labor contracts between this unit and the boatmen is facing many disagreements from the workers.

Ms. Dinh Thi Van, Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune, is worried: If we sign a labor contract and people who are over the age of 150 cannot continue to row the boat, how can we make a living? We take turns rowing the boat according to the number of boats we are given, those who cannot go will sell or transfer the number of boats and rowing turns to others. Everyone goes in turn, no one competes. We have long requested to increase the boat fare from 150,000 VND to 200,000 VND per trip, but it has not been met.

Mr. Nguyen Van Kinh, Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune said, I am very concerned about the content of the contract, there are many general provisions; the people's responsibilities are many, but the businesses' responsibilities are few; the regulations stipulate that people who violate the contract will be fined, so if the business violates the contract, who will the people hold responsible?

Regarding this issue, a representative of Xuan Truong Enterprise said that the boatmen on other routes have signed labor contracts for a long time, and they are entitled to all current labor regimes according to the provisions of law. These labor contracts serve customers very well, without the phenomenon of soliciting or asking for tips, causing uncivilization in tourism, especially in World Natural Heritage areas such as Ninh Binh. Particularly, a part of the workers on the Dinh Cac-Tam Coc route have been hesitant for many years, although the enterprise has persuaded them many times. The enterprise is willing to increase the salary from 150,000 VND/boat trip to 200,000 VND/boat trip, ensuring that workers have a salary range of 3.8 to 4 million VND/month, enough for the enterprise to pay insurance for workers. However, up to now, people have not signed.

Through research, it is known that the allocation of boat numbers and boat rowers according to boat numbers has led to a situation where people without boat numbers build boats to ferry for hire for people with boat numbers but no boats; one boat carries many boat numbers, or one person owns many boat numbers, leading to difficulties in management and improving service quality; the responsibility of boat owners or boat owners with tourism activities and tourists is not linked. There are many cases of violations of regulations of tourist areas, tourists report the situation of boat rowers asking for "tips"; recently, the commune government and relevant agencies had to punish one case.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Ninh Hai Commune, Hoa Lu District, Vu Huy Toan, said that the commune has directed Van Lam village to organize meetings with Party cells, village cadres, and commune cadres in charge of fields and areas to listen to business representatives discuss specific contents of labor contracts and answer related questions. If people do not understand, the commune has the responsibility to continue to propagate and mobilize people and businesses to agree to sign labor contracts in accordance with current legal regulations.

On this tourist route, the total number of boats is about 1,300, with a total of 500-600 workers rowing boats; of which 70-80% are people over working age, in Van Lam village, Ninh Hai commune. In particular, the consideration, granting, cutting, and suspending of boats is carried out by the people according to the village's convention.

With the close and effective coordination of the State, Enterprises and local communities, Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area is gradually becoming a bright spot in terms of culture and civilization, attracting domestic and international tourists. The use of boat rowing labor must be implemented by enterprises in accordance with current regulations, including the Labor Law, to ensure the rights of both enterprises and local workers.

Thus, along with efforts to protect the ecological environment of Tam Coc-Bich Dong Tourist Area, the government, tourism enterprises in the area and people need to continue to pay attention to removing obstacles in the management mechanism to raise awareness of environmental protection; awareness of labor safety... so that Tam Coc-Bich Dong is always an attractive destination, becoming a bright spot in terms of civilization, culture and safety in local tourism development.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/de-tam-coc-bich-dong-that-su-tro-thanh-diem-sang-ve-van-minh-van-hoa-va-an-toan-trong-phat-trien-du-lich-post763036.html