European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - September 14, 1995, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Vietnam s tourism plan snubs budget travellers Bykens tier Deutsche Presse Agenter in Vietnam s master plan for tourism backpackers need not apply. Of course they re coming and their american greenbacks Are being snapped up like everyone else a but the government is hardly rolling out a red carpet for Low budget travellers. In the government s View they stay top Long spend too Little wander beyond approved tourist zones Are aesthetically dubious and have a detrimental effect on society say various sources familiar with Hanoi s thinking on the subject it s Clear they Don t want backpackers says a manager of one of the handful of foreign tour companies. They want to have higher class  in the interest of restoring Security and order a the Field of immigration no More tourist visa extensions will be issued for an indefinite period of time according to the immigration department letter. The ban ,3s in Large part aimed at getting better control Over backpackers say travel Industry sources. In the past two tourist visa extensions were easy to obtain which allowed backpackers up to three months to wander beyond the Well beaten trails Between major cities Mountain resorts and beaches. V -.-. The new order also is aimed at foragers who Are working there on tourist visas and thus avoiding taxes although longtime residents say this is much less prevalent than in the past when getting work visas was much More difficult. The new restrictions Are exactly what the tourist Industry does t need. Here it is already inconvenient and of seems they Are making it More difficult which i think is a step in the wrong direction says a foreign tour operator. The government has grand plans for the tourist Industry. By 2000 the government is hoping to attract 3.8 million visitors who Are projected to contribute 6 percent of the country s Gross Domestic product up from 2.9 percent in 1993. Industry sources say that since the country really opened a in 1991, arrivals All misleadingly counted As tourists have soared from 300,000 year to More than 1 million in 1994. But the Luster is beginning to Wear off. The government s master plan anticipates a 37.5 percent growth in arrivals this year but official figures show arrivals Are running below 20 percent. This is because travel is not very convenient accommodations Are inadequate and relatively expensive service is poor and perhaps Many of the attractions Are overrated say a variety of people involved in the business. State run guesthouses have been ordered to be upgraded to hotels and no new permits will be Given for private guesthouses which have been the natural Choice for those on shoestring budgets. Distributed by Scripp Howard mews service Pirc Vicki at 9am by Ciori of noon your car will him with new services from the Fruto skills Center in change vex. In 3 1427 " of i xvy�5jsr�13 ofus brands of tires n Oil & filter 1., tue Tri 5 am-3pm, toy appointment Rhein Moin Auto skills Center 330-7467 5 around the clock Fri 9am-Sun 4am j the 34th annual Bazaar 3, 4, & 5 november Armstrong s Annex formerly Chi Chi s Over too International vendors Lucky draw Craft Corner bake House White elephant food fest tent sponsored by to Kaiserslautern combined Community sub and415th bib mar want to make Holiday Cash food Vendor applications Are now being accepted Call 0631-66553 by 20 sept last year $85,000 was returned to the Community open to us nato id card holders no strollers please All sales final september 14-20, t995 stripes Magazine 23