Tighten rein on mainland tour operators, consumer groups urge

A tougher stance on regulating mainland tour operators and promoting greater public awareness of consumer rights are key to stamping out travel-trade malpractices, the Consumer Council says.

The council issued a statement yesterday with the China Consumers' Association - an umbrella body of more than 3,000 mainland consumer associations - and consumer organisations in Singapore, Australia, Thailand and Malaysia.

The statement called on tourism authorities to take action against travel agencies and outbound tour operators that 'sell' tour groups or force tourists to shop on so-called zero-fee tours. Measures include having travel agencies on the mainland sign a contract with the receiving agency to ensure there are no disputes about what is promised in the itinerary.

Hong Kong tour guides receiving mainland groups have been required since Thursday to provide group members with a detailed itinerary to help prevent disputes. A common practice by travel agencies on the mainland is to sell their tour groups to another agency. Tour groups can be sold several times, with each agency taking a cut of the tour cost.

This leaves little or no fee for the receiving agency, which forces the group to shop to recoup its costs.

'We know of one instance where a small tour group from Shandong was sold by the travel agency to Guangzhou and then to Shenzhen before arriving in Hong Kong,' Pamela Chan Wong-shui, the council's chief executive, said.