All companies organizing tours around Nha Trang Bay off the south-central province of Khanh Hoa agreed Wednesday to offer services at the same prices amongst themselves as a way to ensure fair internal competition.

Ten companies, all members of the Nha Trang-Khanh Hoa Tourism Association, now run tours to four islets in the beautiful bay off Nha Trang City, the capital of Khanh Hoa.

All of the ten have formally promised not to charge lower prices at any cost, said Nguyen Van Thanh, deputy head of the tourism association.

Thanh said attempts by several tour companies to bring down rates had resulted in poor service quality and was prejudicial to the local tourist industry.

According to the new pricing scheme, effective as of March 1, each customer pays VND250,000 ($11) to get to the islets by wooden boat, and VND450,000 ($19) by speedboat.

A wooden boat ride combined with a sea diving service costs VND750,000 ($32) per tourist while the same ride with a sea floor walking service fetches VND1,050,000 ($45).

Meanwhile, a visitor enjoying a speedboat ride will pay VND950,000 ($41) and VND1,250,000 ($54) for the diving and ocean walking services, respectively.

The fixed rates for boat rides are VND50,000-100,000 ($2-4) higher than the quotes previously set by the ten tour operators.

The rise is meant to boost service quality, Thanh was quoted by Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper as saying.

The companies have also agreed not to employ gimmicks to get more customers.

Each of them will give VND1 million ($43) a month to a fund used to cover mutual supervisory tasks.

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