New China Tourism Law to protect tourists but discourage tourism

The People Republic of China enforced the new China Tourism Law on 1st October 2013, the 64th National Day.

According to Article 35 of the China Tourism Law, travel agencies are prohibited from organizing tourism activities and luring tourists with unreasonably low prices, or getting illegitimate gains such as rebates by arranging shopping or providing tourism services that requires additional payment.

When organizing and receiving tourists, travel agencies shall not designate specific shopping places, or provide tourism services that require additional payment. However, it does not include circumstances where both sides have agreed or the tourists have requested for such arrangements and no influence is caused on the itinerary of other tourists.

The first ever China Tourism Law will definitely protect the local Chinese who travel outbound for holidays. But how does it protect foreign visitors who travel to China for holidays?

Many travel agencies have promised that there will be no purchasing, tipping, or paid travel sessions other than those listed in the contracts. That said, tour operators are expected to hike their prices for guided tour packages for both outbound and inbound tours. With a higher entry price, public with lower budget on travel will stop at the door step.

Before the new China Tourism Law being introduced, packaged vacation tours to China are infamous for incorporating at least one shopping session per day on the tour to factories or designated shopping places selling fake or inferior local products such as pearls, tea, silk, Chinese medicine for high commission in return. With a pre-agreed deal with the shopping outlet, and the commission earned from the session, tour operators could offer much lower tour prices to tourists.

Whether China new Tourism Law is to protect inbound tourists or discourage inbound tourism to China has yet to be seen. Most importantly, unscrupulous travel operators in China organizing travel hoaxes with ripping shopping session could be reduced. This is good news in the long run for foreigners who are willing to pay a little extra for a ‘genuine’ holiday to China without worrying of being ripped off! – Travel Feeder

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.