A top politician in Vietnam has urged the government to relax the law forbidding foreign nationals to work as tour guides in Vietnam.
Nguyen Duc Hai, chairman of the National Assembly’s Finance and Budget Committee, said foreigners should be able to work as guides ‘if they meet our requirements and pay taxes.’
The call came as lawmakers were debating possible amendments to the Law on Tourism.
Hai said long term resident expats who ‘have a deep love for Vietnam’ should be given the opportunity to become tour guides.
"We should be open. Foreign tour guides will help make local tourist sites and products more attractive," Hai said.
Officials have been cracking down on illegal foreign tour guides in the country, especially those hailing from China.
In July the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism ordered the deportation of 66 Chinese nationals working illegally as guides.
However demand for foreign language tour guides keeps growing as inbound tourism arrivals surge.
Arrivals grew 25% between January-August 2016 and the government says its target of 8.5 million foreign visitors this year will likely be achieved.
