IX-9 Q: The world has embraced Chinese tourists with their bulging wallets traveling abroad. But there are also growing complaints about Chinese visitors' unrefined manners. How will China look at those problems and what countermeasures will it take?

A: In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese have traveled abroad. In response, more and more countries have opened their tourist markets to China. However, some Chinese tourists' coarse behaviors offend local people of the destination countries and regions and bring disgrace to China that is known as “a country of courtesy.” Their reckless manners arouse wide criticisms both at home and abroad.

Except some of the impoliteness that happens due to people's unawareness of local customs, most of the careless behaviors are caused by bad habits. Take spitting and littering for example. China has promulgated regulations to ban the uncultivated behaviors, but many people are indifferent toward them. In addition, though most Chinese tourists have been given courses on overseas customs, some of them forgot what they were taught no sooner than landing abroad.

Although impoliteness and unrefined manners are a nuisance, they are not exclusive to Chinese tourists. And China is not the only country in the world hoping to set up a good national image through its citizens' nice manners. Many countries have been trying hard to restrain crude behaviors of their people and imposing strict punishments on those who do damage to the tourism environment, historic relics and/or national reputation.

To rectify the bad habits of Chinese tourists, the Chinese Government has launched an education campaign as of August 2006. The core of the campaign is the formulation of guidelines for outbound Chinese tourists and a conduct code for people traveling at home. It has also composed many other activities such as lectures, contests and exhibitions. More training programs have also been scheduled to teach Chinese people, especially those planning overseas travels, with basic knowledge about foreign affairs and etiquette. It is expected the education campaign will achieve initial success by the end of 2008.

(China.org.cn)