Visitors to the Chinese capital are often offered one-day-tour services at airports or railway stations, or scenic spots. But these so-called services are all illegal, according to the Beijing Tourism Administration.

Beginning from late August, in collaboration with the Beijing Public Security Bureau, the Beijing Tourism Administration has launched a campaign to eliminate such services and punish those illegal organizers.

So far, none of regular tourist agencies has operated one-day tour service in the city. The guides and buses involved in such service in Beijing are all unlicensed.

“One-day-tour service needs heavy investment in manpower and material resources,” said Yang Yang, general manager of Beijing Chunqiu Travel Agency. “With traditional management and administration, regular tourist agencies are not rivals of the organizers illegally engaged in such services. Moreover, it is a low profit business. That is why regular tourist agencies give up the service.”

The main sources of profit got by the unlicensed organizations are commissions from shops, pharmacies and restaurants.

Every year, illegal organizers attracted 600,000-800,000 visitors, out of whom they make a profit of 60-80 million yuan annually.

“Admission fee to the Shuiguan Great Wall is 12 yuan, but the charge to the Badaling Great Wall is 40 yuan/person,” said Wang Xinghai, manager of Beijing Bus Tourism Company. “Unlicensed tour guides usually take travelers to the Shuiguan Great Wall instead of the Badaling Great Wall, because they can get a commission of 15 yuan/person if they bring travelers to climb this section by cable cars. From each traveler’s admission fee to Changling Tomb and lunch, the tour guide gets one or two yuan. Moreover they also accept kickbacks while taking travelers to shops.”

Yu Changjiang, director of Beijing Tourism Administration, points out that together with the Beijing Public Communication Bureau and Public Security Bureau, the administration will crack down on the unlicensed one-day-tour services.

Tourist buses No.1 to 8, the key buses running to and fro tourist attractions in suburban Beijing, will also improve their services so as to attract more customers. .

Moreover, a one-day-tour service center will be set up near the China Millennium Monument, where travelers can choose their destinations from over 100 routes. More than 100 tourist buses will offer services at the center.

(China.org.cn by Unisumoon September 16, 2004)