Panda Xiao Di, a cartoon character who wears sunglasses and carries a travel bag, is the mascot for China's campaign to teach its citizens proper travel etiquette. Wednesday, April 25, 2007. (Source: China National Tourism Administration)

 

 

The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has launched a nationwide campaign to educate its upcoming May Day holidaymakers on how to behave more properly in public during the week-long domestic or outbound travels.

 

According to Wednesday's Xinhua News reports, the campaign aims to teach Chinese people how to better behave themselves when they travel in and out of China, particularly in the lead-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. The campaign will start in the big cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou where most of China's outbound tourists originate.

 

China's national tourism authority has also introduced a number of regulatory measures and educational programs to all 4 star level travel agencies, hotels and tourist areas as part of the campaign. Travel agents will have to use a standard contract and teach all group tour members necessary travel etiquette before they set off and during their journeys.

 

The campaign has also adopted a lovely cartoon panda called "Xiao Di" as its national mascot. The lovely image who wears sunglasses and carries a big bag is believed to draw people's attention to the way they behave when they travel.

 

China's railway and other transportation services have also been demanded to take effective measures in support of the campaign during the upcoming week long May holidays.

 

A comic shows a bad tourist keeps scratching his name and messages along his travel route. (File Photo)

 

(CRIENGLISH.com April 27, 2007)