The Standing Committee of the Guangzhou Municipal People's Congress has announced that the regulations on tourism industry in Guangzhou have been formally approved and will be implemented from December 1, 2008.

The regulations stipulate that the travel agencies without business licenses are not allowed to operate outbound and inbound tours or offer business and visa application, nor to lure or receive tourists, as well as offering chargeable services including arranging accommodation. It also requires the relevant departments set up the criteria for services and techniques for meetings, conferences, exhibition and business travel, industrial tourism, self-driving, and rural tourism.

In addition, the regulations also prescribe that the tourists are entitled to require the travel agencies to compensate them for false or unsatisfactory products bought in shopping venues that were arranged by the travel agencies.

(China Hospitality News October 10, 2008)