China Consumer Association Warns Of Illegal Travel Operators

A nationwide publicity drive was launched April 17 by the China National Consumers Association and the China National Tourism Association to inform tourists of ways to protecting their rights and obligations.

Xidan, Beijing's booming commercial street, served as the main site of Sunday's activities, with China's top 20 travel services as well as overseas tourist institutions including those from Australia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong participating.

Officials from these services and institutions issued pamphlets to passers-by and provided travel information.

The improvement of life standards and the increase of state-approved holidays in China has witnessed rapid development in the tourist sector. Statistics indicate that last year, more than 700 million Chinese people traveled in China while 1.93 million people traveled abroad.

However, the number of complaints put forward by tourists also went up, mainly due to poor services on the part of travel agencies and lack of travel-related knowledge from tourists.

Cao Tiandian, head of the Consumers Association, said that tourists should be cautious in choosing a travel agent because there are illegal travel operators.

Zhang Jianzhong, deputy-director of the Management Department of China National Tourism Administration, said that China will further enhance quality control in the tourism sector, vowing to severely punish those who cheat tourists. At a press conference here today, he publicized a new hotline telephone number of CNTA, which will listen to complaints from tourists. The phone number is: 010-65275315.

Please visit People's Daily Online --- http://www.peopledaily.com.cn/english/