Explainer | Zero-dollar tourism is scourge of China travel industry, but what is it and how can people avoid its many traps?
- Price gouging, boring tours, forced shopping all tricks of dirty tour trade
- Post reveals how to beat blues of dodgy travel, at home or abroad
They are known as “zero-dollar tours” and they have proliferated with the resurgence of China’s tourism industry – both domestic and international – in the post-Covid era.
These tours almost always come with a ridiculously low price tag, but should carry a “buyer beware” warning which says, “If it looks too good to be true, then it almost certainly is not”.
Here, the Post delves into this problematic form of tourism and lays out some of the red flags people should watch out for.
What is zero-dollar tourism?
China’s tourism industry has experienced a robust post-pandemic rebound with domestic tourists spending approximately 633 billion yuan (US$88 billion) over the 2024 Lunar New Year holiday period.
This marked a 50 per cent increase from 2023, according to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism.
While many travellers prefer group tours for the convenience of having all logistics managed by agencies, however, in a bid to attract customers, some travel tour businesses offer “zero-dollar tours” which claim to cover the cost of transportation, accommodation, and meals.
However, such tours often turn into a trap.