Tourist trap (2)

In the spotlight

CCTV program Oriental Horizon reported on February 15 that one Hainan travel agency charged 140 yuan per person for a three-day tour to Hainan, but suddenly replaced one free scenic spot on the itinerary with another one costing an entrance fee of 120 yuan, without telling the tourists in advance.

Tour guides strongly recommend diving to tourists and when tourists choose the highly priced activity at up to 480 yuan, the diving coaches recommend underwater photo-taking services at up to 1,280 yuan. If tourists refuse to take photos, the coaches will make the tourists dive deeper very quickly, which can cause physical discomfort, so the tourists then ask to cease the diving activity in only about five minutes, the report said.

The report also mentioned a rebate list from one Hainan firm for a diving activity priced at 480 yuan per person. The company pays 180 yuan out of the fee to the tour guide and 150 yuan to the travel agency, meaning that 68 percent of the fee paid by tourists goes to tour guides and travel agencies. At another diving firm the rebate ratio is as high as 80 percent, the report said.

Scenic spots and stores also provide high rebates to tour guides to encourage them to bring tourists there, other CCTV programs reported.

Following these reports, local authorities began inspections and withdrew one travel agency's business license and one tour guide's certificate on February 20.

On February 26, another three travel agencies were fined and suspended from doing business, and three tour guides were fined.