Top destination to stamp out tourist scams
Print Edition
YUNNAN Province in southwest China is determined to stamp out tourist scams with the introduction of tough new legislation.
The country’s top province for tourism received over 431 million domestic and overseas tourists last year, about 10 percent of the national total. It boasts rich tourism resources, including unparalleled natural scenery, ethnic culture and world heritage sites.
However, it has faced increasing public criticism after incidents such as forced shopping excursions, scams, and the humiliation and beating of tourists.
Statistics from the National Tourism Administration and web resources show Yunnan also frequently ranks top in the number of complaints filed by tourists.
In February, complaints against Yunnan tour operators were about 34.8 percent of the national total. Most were related to cheap tours and forced shopping.
“The new regulation was made to separate tours from shopping, and we aim to restore tourism market order within a year,” Yu Fan, the director of Yunnan’s tourism development commission, told reporters.
Shops at tourist destinations are often accused of selling poor quality, overpriced goods. According to the new regulation, which takes effect on April 15, these shops will become supermarket-style shops with proper pricing and fall under day-to-day supervision by tourism and commerce authorities.
The regulation also bans kickbacks or commissions, which had come under the guise of “parking fees” or “tea fees” for bus or taxi drivers, and “head-count fees” for guides.
“The new regulation removes the source of profit for tour operators,” said Mou Xuemei, director of the tourist guide association in Lijiang, a popular destination for tourists.
“It means guides can no longer receive commission, and their earnings will solely depend on whether their clients are happy,” Mou said.
In Lijiang, there are about 2,000 tourist guides.
“The new policy will greatly impact them, and I have heard them talking about the policy since word of it came out,” she said.
“Kickbacks are a national problem. Everyone will look and see how tourism reform in Yunnan goes,” she said.
According to a tourism industry report, some shops sell jade, medicine and Pu’er tea at 10 times the cost to produce. Fifty to 90 percent of the money goes back to travel companies, which then give kickbacks to their guides.
“Commissions based on shopping tours are dysfunctional and distort the proper enjoyment of the travel experience,” said Garry Crockett, global executive chairman of China Ready & Accredited, a tourism consulting firm.
“The new regulation brings China’s domestic tourism policy into harmony with international best practice. Most Western travelers expect transparency in tour arrangements and like to be provided with the freedom to choose which shop they patronize,” he said.
Yunnan is to establish a rating system for tourist guides and increase supervision of guides. It will also establish a blacklist for discredited tour operators.
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