CIRCULAR OF THE GENERAL OFFICE UNDER THE STATE COUNCIL ON THEAPPROVAL AND TRANSMISSION OF A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL TOURISMADMINISTRATION CONCERNING THE STRENGTHENING OF TOURIST WORK
CIRCULAR OF THE GENERAL OFFICE UNDER THE STATE COUNCIL ON THEAPPROVAL AND TRANSMISSION OF A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL TOURISMADMINISTRATION CONCERNING THE STRENGTHENING OF TOURIST WORK
Important Notice:
This English document is coming from the "LAWS AND REGULATIONS OF THE
PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF CHINA GOVERNING FOREIGN-RELATED MATTERS" (1991.7)
which is compiled by the Brueau of Legislative Affairs of the State
Council of the People's Republic of China, and is published by the China
Legal System Publishing House.
In case of discrepancy, the original version in Chinese shall prevail.
Whole Document
CIRCULAR OF THE GENERAL OFFICE UNDER THE STATE COUNCIL ON THE
APPROVAL AND TRANSMISSION OF A REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE NATIONAL TOURISM
ADMINISTRATION CONCERNING THE STRENGTHENING OF TOURIST WORK
(December 21, 1988)
The Report, "Suggestions Concerning the Strengthening of Tourist Work",
submitted by the National Tourism Administration, has been approved by the
State Council and is hereby transmitted to you for implementation in the
light of the actual conditions of the respective localities and
departments.
The tourist industry is a comprehensive undertaking which involves
departments such as aviation, communications, culture, construction, light
industry, textile industry, and commerce. All the departments concerned
shall coordinate and support each other and make joint efforts to promote
the sound and coordinated development of tourism in our country.
SUGGESTIONS CONCERNING THE STRENGTHENING OF TOURIST WORK
Since the conclusion of the Third Plenary Session of the Eleventh Central
Committee of the Communist Party of China, under the guidance of the
policy of reform and opening to the outside world, tourism has been
developing very rapidly in our country; and it has played an active part
in increasing our country's non-trade foreign exchange earnings, in
boosting international trade and cultural exchange, and in promoting the
mutual understanding and friendship between peoples throughout the world.
At present, our country possesses a fairly good foundation for the
development of tourism and the necessary conditions for speeding up such
development. The general trend of continuous and steady development of the
international tourism is also favourable to us for promoting our tourist
industry. In order to further strengthen the coordinated administration of
tourist work and strive for a greater development of our tourist industry,
we hereby advance the following suggestions:
1. Strengthening the administration of the tourist industry and doing a
good job in the reform of tourism administration organs at various levels.
The people's governments of various provinces, autonomous regions, and
municipalities directly under the Central Government, as well as tourist
cities, especially those favourite haunts with relatively rich tourist
resources, shall, in accordance with the principles of "separating Party
organs from government organs", "separating government organs from
enterprises", and "simplified and unified administration", and in the
light of local conditions and needs of the development of international
and domestic tourism, set up and improve the tourism administration organs
by combining them with the reform of local setups and making overall
arrangements. The tourism administration departments at various levels
shall make timely and specific adjustments to their responsibilities,
clearly define their scope of duties, and rationally deploy their
organizations. In order to effect the separation of government organs from
enterprises, it is imperative to lay stress on the following measures:
(1) The persons in charge of the tourism administration departments shall
not assume concurrently posts of manager of local tourist companies,
tourist agencies, or hotels;
(2) The tourism bureaus shall be completely separated from the enterprises
directly under them in the administration of such aspects as personnel,
finance, and materials, so that the tourist enterprises shall carry on
their business operations independently, and assume sole responsibility
for their profits and losses;
(3) The expenses for the tourism administration departments at various
levels to conduct tourist business operations shall be appropriated by the
finance departments at various levels. In order to strengthen the
connections between tourism administration departments and tourist opera-
ting units, the National Tourism Administration shall, in accordance with
the requirements of work, make necessary adjustments with regard to the
"China Association of Tourism" and the "China Association of Tourist
Hotels", and establish thereby the "China Association of Domestic
Tourism", which shall assist the competent authorities for tourism in
coordinating relations with other departments concerned and in studying
and providing guidance to the development of domestic tourism.
2. Further clarifying the scope of responsibility and the limits of powers
of the tourist administration bureaus, and establishing a system of graded
administration. The subordinative relationship of all the tourist
enterprises and tourist institutions throughout the country-including
institutes and schools of tourism, research institutes of tourism, tourist
agencies that are engaged in the international and domestic tourist
industries; various categories of tourist hotels, guest houses,
restaurants, and tourist automobile and vessels companies for the
reception of foreign tourists; key tourist scenic spots, tourist
attractions, and shops selling tourist goods that are open to foreigners;
tourist representative offices abroad, as well as the tourist
representative offices established in China by foreign tourist agencies-to
the competent administrative authorities directly over them shall remain
unchanged; but the tourist bureau shall, in accordance with the provisions
of the State, implement the system of trade administration, inspection,
and supervision. The tourism administration departments at various levels
shall treat tourist enterprises of various categories equally without
discrimination. The National Tourism Administration shall, in accordance
with the aforesaid principle, and working in coordination with other
departments concerned, make a study of, and work out, ways to implement
the system of graded administration and effect a stricter procedure in
examining and approving the establishment of tourist enterprises. All the
tourist enterprises and tourist institutions shall, without exception,
subject themselves to trade administration and supervision.
3. Deepening the reform in a comprehensive way and implementing the
responsibility system of contracted business operations. The tourism
administration departments at various levels and the departments that run
tourist enterprises shall, taking into consideration the actual conditions
of the local areas and of their own departments, and in accordance with
the pertinent provisions of the State, make a study of, and submit a
report on, a specific plan and practicable procedures for the
implementation of the responsibility system of contracted business
operations in state-run and collectively-run tourist enterprises and, at
the same time, formulate other provisions to perfect such a system. In the
course of implementing the aforesaid responsibility system of contracted
business operations, different forms of contracted business operations may
be adopted, in accordance with the differences in the nature of business
operations (tourists agencies, tourist hotels specialized in receiving
foreign guests, fleets of tourist automobiles and vessels) and business
operations of different conditions (enterprises with profits, enterprises
that have to repay loans, enterprises suffering losses and with a
deficit). All those enterprises that have foreign exchange earnings shall
carry out a contracted target for earning foreign exchange, and work out a
corresponding method for the administration of the settlement of the
exchange. Enterprises, which possess the necessary conditions, may
gradually set up risk funds for themselves. The contractor shall be
finally determined, through various kinds of competition, such as by
inviting tenders, or by advertising for employment. The contract period
shall, in principle, be no shorter than 3 years. Once a contract is
confirmed and signed, the two parties, the contractor and the party
awarding the contract, shall execute the contract strictly, and under no
circumstances shall it be violated. The implementation of the
responsibility system of contracted business operations calls for a close
integration of the improvement of enterprise management and the promotion
of reform in the internal administration system of enterprises, and for
further efforts in reforming and improving the labour wage system and the
policy of reward and punishment, in accordance with the principle of
combining responsibility, power, and profit.
4. Reforming the administration system of tourist agencies. The three
backbone travel services-China International Travel Service, China Travel
Service, and China Youth Travel Service-shall be encouraged and supported
to develop towards the establishment of an integrated complex or
enterprise group.
With respect to those tourist agencies of various categories that have
already been set up, the National Tourism Administration and local tourism
administration departments shall carry out assessment and rectification in
accordance with the provisions in Interim Regulations on the
Administration of Tourist Agencies and Rules of Implementation for Interim
Regulations on the Administration of Tourist Agencies. Tourist agencies of
various categories shall all carry out effectively the reform in the
internal work of their respective tourist agencies, further tap their
potentials, so as to raise standard of their operation and administration,
and to improve the quality of their services.
5. Strengthening overseas tourist publicity and the endeavouring for
soliciting tourists, and striving to expand the international market for
foreign tourists. The National Tourism Administration shall make further
efforts in investigating and analyzing the market for international
tourists, work out specific plans for the expansion of the said
international market, and take measures to put it into practice. Our
resident representative tourist offices abroad shall try their best to
investigate into the market for international tourists and carry out
publicity work for soliciting visiting tourists, take the responsibility
to supervise the publicity and soliciting endeavour carried out abroad by
units in charge of liaison work with foreign countries, actively make
contacts with the institutions concerned, tourist agencies and tourist
wholesalers in countries where our representative tourist offices are
resident, and pay attention to collecting and feeding back relevant
information. Various resident representative tourist offices abroad may,
within the scope of law of the respective countries where they are
resident, and at their discretion, undertake some paid services or other
business operational activities.
Various units in charge of liaison work with foreign countries, while
canvassing among foreigners for tourists itineraries, shall work in close
coordination and take the interests of the whole country into account.
They may not play down the others and compete against them by offering
prices lower than the protective price. Various units in charge of liaison
work with foreign countries shall be encouraged to collaborate on a
voluntary basis to canvass jointly among foreigners. With respect to those
who have violated external liaison disciplines, the National Tourism
Administration and the local tourism administration departments shall,
depending on the seriousness of the cases, impose disciplinary sanctions,
or economic penalty, on the violators. In order to meet the needs of the
development of the tourist industry in our country, the outlay for
conducting tourist publicity and canvassing abroad may be increased with
each passing year. From now on, various units in charge of liaison work
with foreign countries, when canvassing jointly among foreigners may
collect service charges: all units that take part in the canvassing
activities and derive benefits there from shall pay the charges.
6. Strengthening the macro-administration of those newly-built tourist
hotels that specialize in receiving foreign guests and promoting the
reform of hotel administration system. The tourism administration
departments at various levels shall conscientiously implement Interim
Regulations on the Construction and Administration of Storied Buildings,
Halls, Hotels and Guest Houses, promulgated by the State Council on
September 22, 1988, and, working in coordination with the local planning
departments, carry out a checking-up on the projects of local tourist
hotels that specialize in receiving foreign guests. From now on, in
principle, no more high-grade tourist hotels that specialize in receiving
foreign guests shall be built in any place. In areas less frequented than
favourite tourist haunts, medium-and low-grade hotels may be built, in
accordance with the tourist market's demand, and depending on the actual
circumstances, (a number of highgrade rooms may be provided in a
medium-grade hotel, if necessary). In such highly frequented tourist
cities as Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Guilin, Xi'an, and Hangzhou, no
new hotel construction projects with Chinese-foreign joint investment or
by Chinese-foreign cooperation shall, in principle, be approved. In
accordance with the guideline of Document No. 17 (1988) issued by the
General Office under the State Council, it shall be imperative to speed up
the establishment of the hotel administration company of our own country.
In cases where necessity arises for the building of new hotels in form of
Chinese-foreign joint ventures or Chinese-foreign contractual joint
venture, the cases shall be handled in accordance with the provisions in
Document No. 101 (1986) and Document No. 32 (1988), issued by the General
Office under the State Council. As regards the tourist scenic spots and
tourist attraction, built and facilitated with, or partly with the
investment of the National Tourism Administration, the local tourism
administration departments shall take part in the leadership and
administration of the aforesaid tourist places.
Promoting the reform in the hotel administration system. There are now
specific standards for the "star-rating" of the country's tourist hotels
that specialize in receiving foreign guests; the rating process shall be
speeded up and strive to complete the task by the end of next year. The
system for issuing and revoking business licence for tourist hotels that
specialize in receiving foreign guests (including various categories of
tourist agencies and tourist automobiles and vessels companies) shall be
gradually set up. With respect to those tourist enterprises that have
committed serious illegal acts, the competent authorities for tourism may
suggest to the relevant administrative departments for industry and
commerce that the business licences of the aforesaid enterprises be
revoked.
7. Carrying out, with caution, the reform in tourist prices, and
strengthening the administration of the receipts and expenditures in
foreign exchange as well as the settlement of exchange relating to tourist
enterprises. The problem of tourist prices has a direct bearing on the
interests and reputation of the State; therefore it is imperative to
conduct careful investigation and studies before taking cautious steps in
the reform, and submit the reform plan to higher authorities for approval.
It is necessary to reform the price structure so as to fix the tourist
prices more scientifically and reasonably by taking into full
consideration the necessity to meet the challenge of international
competition, and in accordance with the special features of different
tourist itineraries and different seasons (from now on, the National
Tourism Administration and the State Administration for Commodity Prices
shall chiefly fix the ceiling price and the floor price - the protective
price). Once the price principles are determined, the tourist enterprises
at various levels and of various categories shall execute them strictly.
Those who have violated the price discipline shall be dealt with
seriously.
The National Tourism Administration shall, working in coordination with
such departments as the State Statistical Bureau, the State Administration
of Foreign Exchange Control, the Ministry of Finance, and the Bank of
China, strengthen the statistical work on the tourist enterprises'
receipts and expenditures, and tighten the control of the foreign exchange
receipts and expenditures of the tourist enterprises, establish the system
for the settlement of tourist foreign exchange, and bring this work into
line with the State plan. It is imperative to formulate, through studies,
the Measures for Foreign Exchange Control in Tourism and the Measures for
the Financial Administration of Foreign Exchange in Tourism, and submit
these two documents to the State Council for approval before
implementation so as to reverse as early as possible the present situation
of serious drain on foreign exchange earnings from tourism.
8. Developing vigorously the manufacture and marketing of tourist goods
and tourist souvenirs, increasing the volume of the foreign exchange
earning from tourism in our country and improving its economic results.
The manufacture and marketing of tourist goods and tourist souvenirs
constitute an important component part of the tourist industry, and is
also an important channel for earning foreign exchange for the State. It
is imperative to establish gradually a nationwide network for the
production and marketing of tourist goods and tourist souvenirs. For the
aforesaid purpose, the "China Tourist Services Company" under the National
Tourism Administration, the "China Tourist Products Production and Supply
Company" under the Ministry of Light Industry, and the "China Friendship
Services Company" under the Ministry of Commerce shall be taken as the
foundation; their leading role shall be brought into full play, and their
businesses shall be further expanded so that they shall grow into
complexes of enterprises specialized in different lines of business,
handling different assortments of tourist goods and tourist souvenirs.
These complexes of enterprises may establish, in a planned way, a number
of production bases for the production of tourist souvenirs, and a number
of research institutes for carrying on studies in the marketing quotations
of international tourist goods and tourist souvenirs and for developing
new products, so that scientific research and product development will be
combined in the integrated process of production-supply-marketing. It is
necessary to encourage various places, especially the key tourist areas,
to vigorously develop the production of tourist goods and tourist
souvenirs that are of national style with various local colours, to
increase designs and varieties, to expand channels for sources of goods,
to improve sales service, and to strengthen market administration. It is
imperative to implement conscientiously the provisions approved long ago
by the State Council: "the foreign exchange earned through the sales of
tourist goods shall be deemed as the foreign exchange earned by foreign
trade" and to formulate, through studies, specific measures for carrying
out the said provisions; with respect to those export goods which do not
come under the licence control, it is important to expand their sales to
foreign tourists; the selling prices of tourist goods and tourist
souvenirs shall be handled flexibly in accordance with the different
conditions of goods supply, the international market quotations, and the
specific marketing policy pursued by the economic and trade departments.
The special raw and processed materials which are needed for the
development of the production of tourist goods and tourist souvenirs and
are in short supply in the country, shall be brought into the goods supply
channels handled by the departments of goods and materials at various
levels; those raw and processed materials that are imported solely by the
State shall be brought into the plan for importation executed by the
State; the special imported raw and processed materials needed shall be
handled in accordance with the pertinent provisions in Document No. 16
(1987) issued by the General Office under the State Council. As Beijing,
Shanghai, and Guangzhou are the three main ports of entry and exit for
overseas tourists, they shall be turned into cities with sizable tourist
shopping centres and good reputation in Asia. At present, some tourist
hotels that specialize in receiving foreign guests spend a large amount of
foreign exchange in importing fitting-up materials, sanitary utensils,
machinery and electrical equipment, and spare and component parts. In
order to change this situation without delay, from now on, all similar
products which can already be manufactured in our country and reasonably
priced and whose quality and delivery time can be guaranteed shall cease
to be imported. We suggest that a catalogue of products to be restricted
in importation be put forward by the departments concerned and the
importation of the aforesaid products shall be examined and approved by
the administrative departments of the trades concerned.
9. Strengthening the building of a contingent of tourist personnel and
paying close attention to the education in professional ethics and
professional discipline. It is imperative to improve the educational work
in schools and institutes of tourism and the professional training of
tourist personnel, especially the training of qualified specialized
personnel at various levels and of different categories. It is also
imperative to intensify the education in professional ethics and
professional discipline, so as to improve the political and professional
quality of tourist personnel, to foster a sense of honour and
responsibility, to oppose all kinds of unhealthy tendencies, to improve
the quality of tourist services and offer high-quality services, thus
enabling our tourist industry to establish good international reputation
and image.
10. Strengthening the coordination between different departments
concerned. The tourist industry is a comprehensive undertaking, the
development of which relies not only on its own work, but also on the
close coordination with such organizations as the departments of aviation,
communications, city construction, gardens and parks, historical relics,
culture, light industry, textile industry, commerce, and religious
affairs. The tourist industry is also a trans-regional trade, and a large
amount of organizational work shall be done by the local departments; a
harmonious coordination is thus indispensable. Tourist departments at
various levels shall strengthen their coordination with other departments
concerned and make joint efforts in promoting a sound and co-ordinated
development of the tourist industry in our country.
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