Buzz
The landscape of Da Lat has been severely compromised in recent years, leaving tourists saddened. Now, with even specialty products being counterfeited, it's a deception to tourists.
For a long time, the specialties of this highland region, known for its flowers, have made a lasting impression on every visitor. However, driven by market forces, some businesses have turned a blind eye to Chinese imports, falsely labeling them as Da Lat specialties to deceive tourists. Little do they know, a reputation built over time can be lost in an instant or after a few dishonest acts.
Popular products like artichoke pollen powder, resembling fresh green vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce, and potatoes, along with specialty jams, have made Da Lat a place where tourists inevitably take a bit of its essence home as gifts for friends and family.
However, it's unclear when the practice of cutting corners began. Some businesses in Da Lat have recklessly imported and labeled various food items of Chinese origin as Da Lat specialties for tourists, including potatoes, sour plum jam, and preserved sour plums. Among these items, only the artichoke pollen powder is considered counterfeit, while the rest originate from China but are magically labeled as Da Lat specialties by local businesses, openly sold to tourists.
According to Mr. Pham S, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Lam Dong Province, besides potatoes, Lam Dong doesn't produce any raw materials for the remaining products. Moreover, due to the high demand for artichoke pollen powder, some businesses have resorted to counterfeiting to deceive tourists. Recently, law enforcement agencies have seized over 100kg of fake artichoke pollen powder. This situation is considered a serious case of commercial fraud, significantly impacting the production and reputation of the tourism industry in Lam Dong.
Therefore, on May 16, Mr. Pham S instructed market management forces to urgently crack down on four counterfeit products falsely claiming to be specialties of Da Lat: potatoes, artichoke pollen powder, sour plum jam, and preserved sour plums masquerading as Da Lat specialties and openly sold to tourists in this city.
The landscape of Da Lat in recent years has been severely compromised, leaving tourists feeling disheartened. Now, with specialty products, which were once a local strength, being counterfeited and deceitfully sold to tourists, one wonders what attractions the tourism industry here will have left to entice visitors.
It's surprising how the issues plaguing the tourism industry have long existed and flourished recently, spreading rapidly to this beautiful highland region. The land of flowers no longer leaves everyone smiling as brightly; instead, many tourists depart with a somber expression, concerned about the rapid destruction of a unique tourism destination both in terms of scenery and spirit.
According to Mr. Kieu Xuan Viet, Deputy Director of the Department of Industry and Trade of Lam Dong Province, handling these masquerading products is very challenging. After importation, businesses will package them into small boxes, label them as Da Lat specialties, and sell them to the market.
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Source: Travel Handbook Mytour - By: Youth
MytourJanuary 3, 2014
