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Chinese tourists misbehaving badly get "good etiquette guidebook"

By Yusof Sulaiman l eTN Asia

China's thrust into the new millennium, as economic successors to the Americans, Japanese, Middle Easterners before them with a new political ideology based on the space shuttle and bullet train, has now changed the mantra of modern China.

For a good part of China's history in the last 50 years, "the little red book," which contains the thoughts and collected words of Mao Tse Tung (the founding father of modern China), has been referred to as an spiritual ideologue of the Communist revolution.

The rapid development of its tourism industry and unflattering report of Chinese tourists in the media from airline to hotel staff have made it necessary for the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) to issue a guidebook so that Chinese tourists traveling abroad will have a "favorable image."

"The behavior of Chinese tourists has damaged ‘the image of China as a civilized country' and generated negative attention overseas," said the Central Commission for Guiding Ethic and Cultural Progress in a statement.

With the number of its outbound travelers expected to reach 100 million by 2020, China has become the fourth biggest source of tourists in the world.

"But the behavior of some Chinese travelers is not compatible with the nation's economic strength and its growing international status," said Zhai Weihua, the committee's deputy director.

Chinese tourists traveling abroad will now have access to a 'good etiquette guidebook' offering advice aimed at helping to correct some embarrassing habits Chinese tourists take with them at home in the company of visitors, as well as abroad.

To be provided with tickets issued, the guidebook containing advice, such as "no spitting, no littering, do not speak loudly in public," is expected to be published by year's end.

"Travel agents and tour guides should take responsibility for educating tourists on etiquette matters while traveling," said CNTA head Shao Weiqi.

Added Zhang Yuan, who is planning a trip to France,: "The campaign is timely. Chinese travelers need to learn some social conventions and etiquette while in foreign countries. It is good for China's image."

As part of an educational campaign, China's Spiritual Civilization Steeing Committee, aimed at correcting embrassing habits of Chinese tourists, launched it last month.

Made up of representatives from CNTA, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Construction and the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the government formed the committee to look into complaints Chinese tourists often clear their throats loudly, jump queues, take off shoes aboard planes and trains, and are rude.

"Our campaign has received more than 30,000 letters and emails listing inappropriate behavior, and offering suggestions for the guidebook," added Weihua. "Our website has received almost 3 million visitors requesting campaign details."

Projections from CNTA show 31 million Chinese made outbound and 1.2 billion domestic trips in 2005.

The campaign, to foster a better image of the Chinese people in the international community, will run until Beijing hosts the Beijing 2008 Olympics.