The Chinese National Tourism Administration has promulgated the Implementation Details for Regulation on Travel Agencies to clarify the rules in the Regulation on Travel Agencies which was published in March.

According to the regulation, travel agencies that change an itinerary without authorization will be fined up to 500,000 yuan. The Implementation Details explains that all of the following situations are included: a decrease in the number of tour items; reducing the tour time; the increase of the number of changes to tour items; increasing shopping times or the extension of shopping time; and other changes to the arrangements in the travel contract.

The Implementation Details also state that travel agencies shall not sell tour group packages to tour guides who levy separate fees. This is also known as zero and negative tour expenses and is prohibited by the Regulation.

Travel agencies should choose legal and qualified companies to entertain tourists; otherwise they will be punished by a fine of up to 30,000 yuan and the confiscation of all of the income earned from the illegal activities.

The Implementation Details for Regulation on Travel Agencies will come into force on May 3 2009, two days after the Regulation on Travel Agencies goes into effect. The Implementation Details for Regulation on the Management of Travel Agencies published on December 27, 2001, will be abolished at the same time.

(China Hospitality News April 14, 2009)