The 33-article regulation stipulates that foreign tourism destination countries should be decided by China's tourism authorities with the approval of the State Council, China's cabinet.

Work units and individuals are not allowed to organize visits for Chinese tourists to foreign countries that are not listed by the tourism authority of the State Council as destination countries.

So far, about 20 destination countries have been selected by China, including major member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt and Turkey.

The rule also stipulates that travel agencies providing foreign tourism services should meet the following requirements:

Agency must have held international travel service qualifications for at least one year

Agencies should have achieved outstanding accomplishments in organizing visits of foreign tourists to China

And such agencies must not have been involved in any major unlawful practices or had serious problems in service quality.

Any offices that fail to meet these requirements are prohibited from providing foreign tourism service in any form, such as going abroad for research, training or business.

The regulation also requires travel agencies to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of tourists.

The foreign tourism service information provided by travel agencies must be "genuine and reliable," according to the new regulation.

When providing foreign tourism service, organizing travel agencies should sign contracts with tourists, which include travel itineraries, prices, food, accommodations, transportation as well as their responsibilities in case of breach of contract.

Chinese tourists are not allowed to get involved in such activities as pornography, gambling, taking drugs as well as other dangerous activities, according to the new regulation.

Tour leaders and guides are not allowed to induce tourists to go shopping and then take commissions from shops.

(China Daily June 04, 2002)