New regulations to target misbehavior by Chinese tourists

Chinese travel agencies have been granted the right to report improperly-behaved tourists, part of efforts to promote civilized tourism, in a new regulation issued by China National Tourism Administration (NTA).

According to the regulation, which came into effect Friday, at the start of the Labor Day holiday, tour guides and leaders should report tourists' bad behavior to authorities. The behaviors, if verified, will be entered into the tourists' records. 

According to another regulation released on April 6, tourists will be blacklisted for uncivilized behavior such as antisocial behavior on public transport, damaging private or public property, disrespecting local customs, breaking cultural relics and historical sites or engaging in gambling or pornographic activities.

The record will be kept for one to two years, and authorities will have the right to report misbehavior to public security, customs or transport authorities, as well as the central bank's individual credit department.

The latest regulation comes amid growing criticism over tourists' ill manners both at home and abroad, and resulting damage to China's national image.

The regulations also stipulates that tour guides can cease providing services to tourists who violate laws or social morals, adding that the tour guides should also remind tourists of civilized behaviors, including those related to the use of toilets.

"I will shoulder those responsibilities to help build a good image for Chinese tourists. I believe that the situation will get better if the regulation is well implemented and tourists on blacklist really face harsh punishment," a Chengdu-based outbound tour guide surnamed Zhang told the Global Times.

Zhang said that the way to solve the problem lies in education, as "those badly-behaved tourists, mostly middle and elderly-aged people, cannot avoid bad behavior because of poor education and deep-rooted habits, although they know not to defame the country's image."

Conflicts between tourists and tour guides are an enduring issue. Many tourists have complained of travel agencies operating illegally and forcing them to purchase souvenirs.

A female tour guide from Kunming, Yunnan Province is likely to have her license revoked after she was exposed as having abused tourists, local authorities said on Sunday.

The travel agency where she works will also  face a penalty of 20,000 yuan ($3,224), China Central Television reported
   By Cao Siqi 
Source:Global Times
4/5/15
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