(ECNS) -- China's tourism regulator has released a draft amendment to strengthen the administration of travel agencies and improve the tourism market, in a move to combat forced shopping.
The amendment of the Travel Agency Regulations, released by the China National Tourism Administration, is now soliciting public opinions.
It says a tourist has the right to demand that a travel agency accept return of a purchased item within 30 days of purchase, if the tourist was forced to shop during the journey.
The new rule also stipulates that a travel agency must specify in a tourism contract about the details of shopping schedules, including stopover times arranged by the agency as well as the name of the shopping places.
Travel agencies are forbidden to force or coerce tourists to shop through means of physical violence, limiting personal freedom, threats, insults or calling names.
The new regulations also become more specific over the penalty for travel agencies who attract tourists with "an unreasonably low-priced tour package."
In case of violating the rule, an agency may face fines ranging from 30,000 yuan ($4,510) to 300,000 yuan, or fines up to five times the illegal income when the amount reaches more than 300,000 yuan, or in more serious instances, have their licenses revoked.
In the new regulations, tourists with serious unruly behaviors will be banned from taking flights or face restraints in overseas trips.
China has been creating a "blacklist" of travelers who commit offenses, with their names to be passed to public security bureaus, the customs department, inspection and quarantine institutions, border authorities, traffic departments, and financial departments. Related departments and institutions can take measures within their authority to limit blacklisted travelers in outbound travel, border tourism, package tours and taking flights.
