TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Vietnam's Kien Giang Provincial Tourism Administration reported on Thursday (Feb. 15) that the WInnER International Travel Co. ceased services while retaining the Taiwanese tourist group's deposit and continuing to charge fees for violation of contract rules, though Taiwan's Mega International Travel Service did not make payment as per the agreement.
During the Lunar New Year, 292 Taiwanese tourists, who traveled to Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam, complaints arose due to the rights and interests of the tourists being impaired. This was caused by Mega International owing money to WInnER International, responsible for organizing the group.
Bui Quoc Thai, director of the Kien Giang Provincial Tourism Administration, pointed out that WInnER International signed a contract with Mega International on Sept. 12, 2023, and received a deposit of NT＄700,000 on Jan 18. 2024.
However, the two sides could not agree on the service price quoted by WInnER International. Consequently, they sent a notice to stop providing service to Mega International on Jan. 31 but received no acknowledgment or response.
During the service process for the tour group, Mega International did not pay as agreed, causing WInnER International to ask each passenger to pay an additional US＄720 to continue the journey.
The tourism administration held that WInnER International's unilateral termination of the contract while still retaining the deposit and charging service fees violates regulations and will be penalized for not signing the travel contract as per the regulation with the travel agency or traveler.