A well-known local travel agency has been stripped of its license. Because on an excursion to Thailand five months ago, customers were taken to sex shows while visits to scenic spots were canceled, city officials disclosed this week.

The disclosure came three weeks after the National Tourism Bureau in Beijing imposed its punishment on Shanghai Comfort International Travel Service.

This was the first time that any of the 16 local companies authorized to conduct tours outside of China has been punished for violating the "six taboos," which include overcharging, excessive shopping and "unhealthy entertainment."

"During a 10-day tour to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand in December, a Thai travel guide on the bus began selling sex shows, claiming these programs can only be watched in Thailand," said Yang Fan of the city Tourism Administrative Bureau. "More than half of the tourists signed up. The Chinese group leader did not stop what was going on."

A recently married local woman who was on the tour said: "I still remember that on the list of sex shows were a series of four performances that with food cost 980 yuan (US$118)."

Comfort's Fang Yi said business was brisk in December, so a guide from Shihua travel agency was hired. But Yang countered: "We do not care if the group leader is your staffer or not. She led the tour; she represented the company."

(Eastday.com.cn 05/16/2001)