The Beijing Tourism Bureau will soon start sending mobile phone text messages to welcome people to the capital as soon as they cross the border of the Beijing Municipality. The messages will contain helpful travel information as well as a warm welcome.

 

The bureau announced it will work with China Mobile, a leading service provider, to create a dynamic database to provide travel information to visitors at a work conference.

 

Information on transport, accommodation, shopping, restaurants and entertainment will be available through the database. Together with the existing call center and information booths in the city, the text service will provide visitors from other parts of China with a multi-faceted information service.

 

A list of suggested itineraries and suggested prices is perhaps the most useful information the new service will provide. It will help visitors plan their own itineraries and avoid being over-charged by unscrupulous tour guides and drivers.

 

The Beijing Tourism Bureau is also considering whether to publish monthly, quarterly and annual reports on customer complaints about travel agencies in order to curb illegal travel operation.

 

Some respected travel agencies will also introduce one-day tours in a bid to legitimize the one day tour market.

 

(CRI February 6, 2007)