Thua Thien - Hue: Once 'whistled', Suoi Voi project still collects 'illegal' fees

The Suoi Voi Tourist Area Project was granted an investment policy decision by the Management Board of Economic and Industrial Zones of Thua Thien - Hue Province to Hoa Lu - Hue Investment, Trade and Service Company Limited (referred to as Hoa Lu - Hue Company) since January 2017, implemented on an area of ​​52 hectares at Suoi Voi (Loc Tien Commune, Phu Loc District) with a total initial investment of about 1,020 billion VND.

After 7 years of being granted the investment policy decision, the Suoi Voi tourist area project is still in disarray.

The initial goal of the project was to turn Voi Stream into an attractive, potential destination in the region... However, up to now, this tourist area is still in disarray, with many violations committed by the investor.

Notably, many residents in the area said that recently, although the construction is still in disarray, this tourist area is still collecting entrance fees from visitors.

Construction site without workers

Some construction items at the Suoi Voi Tourist Area project

According to Thanh Nien reporters on the afternoon of March 27, outside the ticket gate to the old Voi stream (Loc Tien commune, Phu Loc district, Thua Thien - Hue), the investor has firmly barricaded it with a corrugated iron fence nearly 2 meters high, however the old path leading to the stream is still open.

Following this road to approach the reception area of ​​Hoa Lu - Hue Company, when approaching the location of the stone elephant, a person claiming to be a security guard of this company came out, stopped the car and announced the entrance fee.

"A person will pay 80,000 VND to enter the bathing gate. I will stay here to collect the money and then "shoot" (transfer - PV) it to the company. When I saw you coming up, someone sitting at the operator's house informed me to come here. Coming here costs money, whether you are bathing or just sightseeing, otherwise why would the security guard stand here? Hoa Lu Company hires people here to set up stalls and run shops, and has been operating for 2-3 years now," this person said.

At the location of the stone elephant, a resting hut is invested, there are security guards and entrance fees are collected.

Inside the bathing areas of the stream, there are some temporary huts and service staff. By late afternoon, although this area was only occupied by a few traders, not ensuring safety for tourists bathing in the stream, the security guards still received instructions to "welcome guests" from someone at the operator's house. Within 10 minutes of being there, the reporter recorded nearly 10 foreign tourists arriving, paying a fee to enter.

On the afternoon of March 27, after receiving feedback from local residents and going directly to the scene, Thanh Nien reporters forwarded the feedback to Mr. Phan Huu Binh, Vice Chairman of Loc Tien Commune People's Committee. Mr. Binh affirmed that the local government has banned the sale of tickets to Voi stream for a long time. "Next week, we will invite the investor's representative to work so that they can sign a commitment to take full responsibility for this fee collection," Mr. Binh said.

Although still under construction, the tourist area still welcomes a lot of visitors.

On March 30, Mr. Vo Minh Thien, Head of the Compensation Board, Security Management of the Suoi Voi Tourist Area project (the person authorized by the leaders of Hoa Lu - Hue Company to answer Thanh Nien reporters) , confirmed that employees of Hoa Lu - Hue Company did collect fees from tourists as reported by reporters; this fee collection has not been approved by the authorities.

According to Mr. Thien, in the past, Hoa Lu - Hue Company has presided over and hired a number of residents, who used to do business at the old Voi stream, to organize trading and business to serve tourists with a fee. Mr. Thien explained that the main purpose of this activity is to create jobs for households affected by the project during the construction period.

"The fee of 80,000 VND will include seats and life jackets for tourists. The main purpose is to create jobs for businesses that are being affected. So the fee is to pay people's salaries," said Mr. Thien.

The Suoi Voi Tourist Area project is licensed to be implemented on an area of ​​52 hectares.

In response to concerns about the safety of tourists, Mr. Thien affirmed that after Thanh Nien reporters reported, this unit will work with the People's Committee of Loc Tien commune to have a written commitment.

In 2022, Hoa Lu - Hue Company was fined 70 million VND by the Inspectorate of the Department of Planning and Investment of Thua Thien - Hue province for administrative violations due to slow progress. In the summer of 2023, this enterprise continued to be fined for organizing to welcome visitors to Suoi Voi when not meeting the conditions.

Previously, at a press conference in early March 2024, Mr. Ngo Van Phong, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Economic and Industrial Zones of Thua Thien - Hue province, will support investors in removing difficulties and obstacles to soon complete phases 1 and 2. However, if Hoa Lu - Hue Company fails to implement and is behind schedule, the Management Board will review and coordinate with relevant agencies to handle project violations and carry out procedures to terminate the operation of all or part of the project according to regulations.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Binh, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Thua Thien - Hue province, also requested the People's Committee of Phu Loc district and the Management Board of the province's economic and industrial zones to soon work with the investor to effectively handle the project, avoiding prolonged abandonment.

Source link: https://thanhnien.vn/thua-thien-hue-tung-bi-tuyt-coi-du-an-suoi-voi-van-thu-phi-chui-185240329155141147.htm