PERSONNEL CONDITIONS FOR FOREIGN-OWNED TOURISM COMPANIES

For foreign investors doing tourism business in Vietnam, it is mandatory to comply with regulations under Vietnamese law including: Human resources, capital, type of business, etc. In this article, we invite you to join Siglaw to learn in detail the personnel conditions for foreign-owned travel companies in Vietnam: 

What is a foreign capital travel agency?

A foreign-owned travel company is a travel company whose foreign investors are members or shareholders. Foreign capital tourism companies are often a form of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and contribute to the development of the tourism industry in that country. The participation of foreign investors can bring economic benefits and technology transfer, and help improve the quality and scale of tourism services

Personnel conditions for foreign-owned travel companies

Foreign language

In the foreign-capital tourism industry, foreign language proficiency requirements for personnel are extremely important, as they often have to work with clients from different countries.

First of all, personnel need to be able to use English. In most cases, English is considered the main foreign language required for personnel in the foreign-capital tourism industry. This is because English is a common and widely used language in the tourism industry worldwide. HR needs to be able to communicate in English fluently to serve international customers. English language requirements may vary depending on the job position. Receptionists or tour guides may need a basic level of English to communicate daily with customers. Meanwhile, management or marketing positions may require a higher level of English, including writing and reading specialized literature.

In addition to English, a foreign-owned travel agency may require personnel to have knowledge of additional languages depending on their target market. For example, if the company focuses on the French market, then personnel with knowledge of French will be prioritized. This helps in providing better service to customers and fosters positive interactions.

Therefore, when hiring, foreign-invested travel companies may require personnel with certificates or qualifications proving their foreign language proficiency such as IELTS, TOEIC or TOEFL (for English) or certificates other than other languages.

Expertise and experience

The position of person in charge of travel service business requires a wide range of skills and qualifications to ensure professionalism and safety in the tourism industry. As a rule, the person in charge needs to meet the following standards:

• Qualifications: they need to have graduated with a major in travel from college level or higher. This ensures that they have basic and extensive knowledge of the tourism industry, including travel service management, safety rules, and knowledge of tourism culture and geography. A deep understanding of travel is important to manage travel services effectively and ensure customer satisfaction. Pursuant to the provisions of Clause 2 Article 3 of Circular 06/2017/TT-BVHTTDL, amended by Clause 1 Article 1 of Circular 13/2019/TT-BVHTTDL, the majors considered as travel services include: Management of tourism and travel services; Travel Management; Tour operators; Tourism marketing; Travel; Travel tourism; Tourism management and business; MICE Tourism Management; Travel agent; Travel guide; Industries, trades and majors showing one of the phrases “tourism”, “travel”, “tour guiding” trained and granted diplomas by educational institutions in Vietnam before the effective date of this Circular; Industries, trades and majors may show one of the phrases “tourism”, “travel”, “tour guiding” trained and granted diplomas by foreign training institutions.
• If they graduate from a field other than a travel major, they must have an international tourism operator certificate. This requires specific knowledge and skills in operating international tourism services, including how to organize trips, manage customers, and deal with emergency situations.

These stringent standards ensure that the person in charge of the travel service business has the necessary knowledge and skills to ensure the safety and satisfaction of customers in the tourism industry, which is complex and requires high professionalism.

Have a certificate of international tourism operator

As analyzed above, if the person in charge of a foreign-invested travel company does not graduate from a university majoring in travel, they will have to have a certificate of tourism management. For foreign-invested travel companies, only international tours can be operated, so the manager will need an International Tour Operator certificate. Conditions for studying for the International Tour Operator certificate, they must be those with a college diploma or higher, not a major in Travel.

For free and in-depth consultation on establishing a foreign capital travel company in Vietnam, please contact Siglaw Law Firm:

Head office in Hanoi: 12A floor, Sao Mai Building, No. 19 Le Van Luong Street, Nhan Chinh Ward, Thanh Xuan District, Hanoi City.

Email: vphn@siglaw.com.vn

Southern branch: No. 99 Cong Hoa, Ward 04, Tan Binh District, Ho Chi Minh City.

Central Branch: 177 Trung Nu Vuong, Hai Chau District, Da Nang City

Email: vphcm@siglaw.com.vn

Hotline: 0961 366 238

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