Beijing Consumers' Association along with the Hong Kong Consumer Council released a consumer reminder on July 21, suggesting that mainland tourists to Hong Kong should "shop around" when choosing travel agencies and avoid ones offering suspiciously low prices.

In the past two months, several disturbing cases happened in Hong Kong after mainland tourists traveled under the guidance of local travel agencies.

To improve the travel environment to Hong Kong and restore consumer confidence, Beijing Consumers' Association and the Hong Kong Consumer Council offered tips to consumers who are seeking proper travel agencies to Hong Kong.

Consumers were warned that the tour guide should hand out a schedule to every tourist when the travel group arrives in Hong Kong.

The schedule should include detailed information on meals, accommodation, transport, tours, entertainment, etc, and list the charges for all self-paid activities, services and other optional items.

"Tourists should be cautious when signing a contract with a travel agency and compare the terms between the contract and the schedule to protect their legal rights," said Lang Danke, head of the complaints department at the Beijing Consumers' Association.

The two organizations also announced three hotlines and a website for tourists who have any complaints or enquiries before and during their trip to Hong Kong. They are:

(852) 2807 0707-inbound tourists service hotline of the Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong

(852) 2929 2222-hotline of the Hong Kong Consumer Council

(852) 2508 1234-hotline of the Travel Development Bureau of Hong Kong

The website address is:www.consumer.org.hk

Tourists can also call the (010) 96315-hotline of the Beijing Consumers' Association to seek help after coming back from Hong Kong, according to Lang.

Chen Yingshu, a Beijing-based worker who is planning a trip to Hong Kong for her annual vacation, shared her opinion on how the travel environment of Hong Kong could be improved.

"The business ethics and regulations of the Hong Kong travel industry should be more specified and standardized," she said. "Travel agencies that violate such rules must be exposed and de-listed."

China Daily