China to Speed Up Opening of Travel Service Industry

Home>>Business

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, January 09, 2002

China to Speed Up Opening of Travel Service Industry

Now that it is a full-fledged member of the WTO, China will speed up the opening of its travel service industry, vice-premier Qian Qichen said Tuesday in Haikou.
China will allow big-name international travel agencies to entry the country so as to learn from their management and expertise, Qian said.

International Travel Agencies to Enter China

Addressing a national conference on the tourism industry, Qian said China will allow big-name international travel agencies to entry the country so as to learn from their management and expertise.

Entrance of Unscrupulous Small Agencies to be Stopped

Meanwhile, China will hone its existing approval system to stop the entrance of unscrupulous small travel agencies, which might disturb the domestic market order, Qian said.

Tourism Industry to Be Promoted

The vice-premier also called for the use of more overseas capital in developing the country's tourism resources, especially those in the remote western regions.

Inbound

To attract more overseas tourists, Qian said China should market itself as the safest tourist destination in the world.

Outbound

Enhanced marketing efforts should be directed towards traditional markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, Russia, the United States, West Europe, and southeast Asia, while emerging markets such as India, East Europe, the Middle East and Latin America should be further developed, he said.

China Sets up Two New Joint Venture Travel Agencies

Two new joint venture travel agencies were set up recently. Currently, there are ten joint venture travel agencies in China.

CITS-AE Travel Agency, which will start operating next March, was jointly established by the China International Travel Service and the American Express Company. Comfort-Rosenbluth was set up by China Comfort Travel Co. and Rosenbluth Company, with Comfort holding 51 percent of the shares.

More Foreign Travel Agencies Welcomed

China will speed up its deregulation of the tourism industry and allow more foreign travel agencies to enter the sector. The bureau's Planning and Development Department has approved the establishment of eight Sino-foreign joint venture travel agencies.

Approved joint ventures will be limited to bringing foreign tourists to China and offering domestic tourism packages.

Source From www.china.org.cn

China to Issue Visas for Inbound Group Travel at Authorized Ports

China Sets up Two New Joint Venture Travel Agencies

China Modifies Administration on Travel Agencies

>> Full Coverage