Core Viewpoint - The State Council issued a notification on September 15 to strengthen comprehensive regulation of the tourism market, aiming to address issues disrupting market order and protecting tourists' rights, thereby promoting high-quality development in the tourism industry [1] Group 1: Regulatory Responsibilities - The notification emphasizes the need to clarify the responsibilities of various departments in tourism market regulation, adhering to principles of local management, inter-departmental collaboration, and shared responsibilities [1] - The cultural and tourism department is tasked with daily coordination and supervision of tourism service quality, while the police department is responsible for maintaining order at tourist sites and addressing illegal ticket sales [2] Group 2: Protection of Tourists' Rights - The notification addresses the issue of "big data killing familiarity," where different prices are shown for the same service based on user accounts, and emphasizes the need for online travel platforms to protect personal information and avoid misleading practices [3] - It encourages tourism operators to adopt a customer-centric approach, improve service quality, and ensure compliance with legal standards to safeguard tourists' rights [3] Group 3: Regulatory Mechanisms - The notification calls for enhanced regulatory checks and law enforcement collaboration among departments, including online inspections and surprise checks to ensure compliance [4] - It highlights the importance of addressing multi-departmental issues promptly and coordinating investigations to uphold market order [4] Group 4: Seasonal Regulatory Focus - The notification acknowledges that illegal activities tend to increase during peak tourist seasons, and emphasizes the importance of ongoing regulatory efforts to identify and address market issues [5]

Core Viewpoint - The State Council issued a notice on September 15 to strengthen comprehensive regulation of the tourism market, aiming to address issues disrupting market order and protecting tourist rights, thereby promoting high-quality development in the tourism industry [1] Group 1: Regulatory Responsibilities - The notice emphasizes the need to clarify the responsibilities of various departments in tourism market regulation, adhering to principles of local management, departmental collaboration, and shared responsibilities [3] - The cultural and tourism department is tasked with daily coordination and supervision of tourism service quality, as well as handling violations of tourism laws [3] - The public security department is responsible for maintaining order in tourist areas and addressing illegal activities such as ticket scalping and fraud [4] Group 2: Protection of Tourist Rights - The notice highlights the issue of "big data killing familiarity," where different prices are shown for the same service based on user accounts, and calls for online travel platforms to protect personal information and prevent unfair practices [5][6] - It encourages tourism operators to adopt a customer-centric approach, improve service quality, and ensure the safety and legal rights of tourists [5][6] Group 3: Regulatory Mechanisms - The notice proposes enhancing regulatory checks and law enforcement collaboration among departments through online inspections and surprise checks [6] - It aims to establish a framework for cross-departmental and cross-regional joint inspections to address issues that span multiple regulatory responsibilities [6] Group 4: Focus Areas for Future Regulation - The Ministry of Culture and Tourism plans to conduct ongoing inspections, particularly targeting popular tourist routes and areas to identify and report issues such as forced shopping and tour guide misconduct [7] - The notice outlines a clear direction for future regulatory efforts, especially during peak tourist seasons, to maintain market order and protect consumer rights [7]

Core Viewpoint - The Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) of China has announced a "zero tolerance" policy towards forced shopping and other illegal activities in the tourism market, launching a year-long special rectification campaign to protect tourists' rights and maintain market order [1][2]. Group 1: Campaign Details - The campaign will focus on issues such as unlicensed operations and forced shopping, particularly monitoring high-risk products like family tours and study tours, in anticipation of over 3 billion tourist trips during the summer peak season [1][2]. - The MCT will collaborate with the Ministry of Public Security and the State Administration for Market Regulation to implement this campaign [2]. Group 2: Targeted Areas of Rectification - Key areas of focus include travel agencies, tourism shopping stores, tour guides, and online travel operators, with specific actions against illegal practices such as operating without a license and misleading consumers [2][3]. - Travel agencies will be scrutinized for practices like luring tourists with below-cost prices and obtaining kickbacks through shopping arrangements [2]. - Tourism shopping stores will be monitored for misleading advertising and price fraud, while tour guides will be targeted for unauthorized guiding and coercive sales tactics [2][3]. Group 3: Safety Measures and Guidelines - The MCT has created a "Tourism Avoid Pitfalls Guide" and a "Tourism Safety Manual" to educate tourists on safety and potential traps [4]. - Tourists are advised to be aware of six common traps, including false advertising, lack of operating qualifications, and non-standard contract signing [5][6]. Group 4: Reporting and Compliance - Tourists are encouraged to report violations by calling the government service hotline or through the MCT's official website, and to keep evidence of their travel agreements and transactions for potential legal action [6].

Group 1 - The Ministry of Culture and Tourism will focus on regulating forced shopping and tour guide misconduct during the summer season, particularly monitoring packaged travel products related to family tours, study tours, and summer vacations [1] - Continuous inspections will be conducted, including undercover visits to online travel platforms, social media, and offline travel agency stores, targeting popular travel routes and scenic spots to identify issues such as forced shopping and safety hazards [1] - The ministry will implement a full-process traceability investigation for cases involving forced shopping, collaborating with relevant departments to investigate the entire process from recruitment channels to shopping points and self-funded projects [1] Group 2 - High-stakes cases with significant amounts involved and severe social impacts will be prioritized for supervision, with increased inspection efforts in key areas to guide investigation directions and ensure proper identification of illegal activities [2] - Tourists are encouraged to report violations of their legal rights promptly through the government hotline or the Ministry's website, while retaining evidence such as contracts, itineraries, and payment records to assist in investigations [2]