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Don't dispose of any garbage while on the road. Take your trash with you until you can dispose of it at an appropriate place. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] |
From its first national tourism law in 2013 to today's industry regulations, China is the first country in the world to include tourists' behaviors in laws and regulations.
The ongoing "toilet revolution" launched earlier in January to improve the toilets at tourist sites that have long been complained of their insufficient numbers, unhygienic conditions, and lack of management, is another example of legal regulation.
China rolled out its first national tourism law in 2013 aiming to promote sustained industry growth. Tourist behavior is singled out in the law, which asked tourists to observe public order and respect social morality, respect local customs, cultural traditions and religious beliefs, care for tourism resources, protect the ecological environment, and abide by the norms of civilized tourist hebaviors.
China is the world's largest outbound market since 2012, according to Madrid-based United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). In 2013, Chinese tourists spent 129 billion U.S. dollars abroad, more than any other source market in the world, UNWTO said.
In 2014, the number of Chinese tourists traveling abroad increased by 19.5 percent year on year to 109 million, nearly 13 times the level in 1998, topping a threshold of 100 million for the first time in history, according to NTA data.
"Even one individual tourist's poor behavior will have global impacts," said Yu Ningning, president of the China International Travel Services Co., Ltd., "The tourist industry and travellers should protect the global image of Chinese people in accordance with law."
