China's first tourism law comes into effect, tourists issued manners guides

By Karla Cripps, CNN

October 4, 2013 -- Updated 0024 GMT (0824 HKT)

China's National Tourism Administration publicized a 64-page "Guidebook for Civilized Tourism" on its website ahead of the Golden Week public holiday that started on October 1, the same day the country's new tourism law came into effect. Golden Week is one of the most popular times of year for the Chinese to travel. Here, tourists visit a waterfront promenade in Hong Kong.

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New law takes effect

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STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• China's first tourism law came into effect October 1
• Law covers tourist safety, unfair competition, price hikes and forced goods purchases
• Guidebook released in September aims to educate Chinese tourists on overseas etiquette

(CNN) -- Travel operators in China have a huge new set of rules to follow now that the country's first tourism law is in place.

Approved in April, the 112-article law came into effect October 1 and aims to promote sustained industry growth.

It includes measures to address issues -- mostly in the domestic industry -- such as tourist safety, unfair competition and forced shopping trips, in which agencies offer cheap tours but recoup their costs from commissions in partner shops.

27/04 中国の旅行社、ツアー再開…まず社員が安全確認

　【大連＝比嘉清太】中国本土の旅行会社３社が今月末、東日本大震災で中断していた日本への団体ツアーを再開する。

　ツアー客はいずれも旅行会社の社員や家族が主体で、日本の観光地の状況を視察し、安全性を確認するためとみられる。

　日中関係筋によると、陝西省西安市の団体約４０人が２９日から６日間の日程で福岡や長崎など九州を訪問。福岡空港では観光庁が歓迎式典を開く予定だ。また、３０日には湖北省武漢市の約７０人が大阪、京都に向け出発する。

　日本大使館は２７日、震災後初めて３団体計１００人に旅行用ビザを発給したことを明らかにした。大連市内の中堅旅行会社は「客が集まれば、関西など震災地以外への団体ツアーは徐々に回復するだろう」と話している。

（2011年4月27日20時47分 読売新聞）