Travel agents not always as black and white as they seem

Beijing is stepping up efforts to regulate the online travel market by compiling the first "black and white" lists of online travel service providers.

The Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development identified 188 "white" or legal travel websites and 52 "black" or phony ones on Tuesday in the build-up to another peak tourism season in China.

According to the commission, about 92.5 percent of tourist complaints last year were about online travel services.

"Phony websites affected tourists' rights by illegally using renowned travel agency brands and fraudulently advertising budget tours," said Zhu Xueqing, head of the law enforcement team under the commission.

"A typical example of a fake website is one which imitates the logo and framework of a leading travel agency's official website and gives the official complaint hotline, but attaches their own phone number under the product advertising," said Zhu.

"It is very hard for tourists to tell the difference. Fake websites distract tourists from the official ones, but the official ones take the blame when tourists are not satisfied with the service".

The crackdown is intended to not only protect tourists' rights but also the interests of travel agencies.

Tong Gang, manager of Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch, said fake websites have caused a drop off in visitor numbers.

"If tourists search the keywords 'Beijing Hub of Tour Dispatch' many results show up phony ones," said Tong. "Despite sending short messages to inform tourists visitors dropped 11.2 percent year-on-year in the first quarter".