A SERIES of rules released by China’s top tourism authority in early November clarified improper behavior and detailed punishments for tour guides who run amok, industry insiders said.

New rules from the China National Tourism Administration prohibit guides from steering their clients to illegal or immoral activities, such as gambling, drugs or sex.

Guides are also prohibited from forcing clients to shop at businesses during a tour, or to charge extra money against a client’s wishes, through intimidation, restricting a person’s freedom or using physical force.

Those who violate the rules will have their licenses revoked, and income generated through such misbehavior will be confiscated. In addition, violators will be fined between 2,000 and 20,000 yuan (US$300 and 3,000).

The administration said the quality of tour guides and the services they provide are key to the way the industry is perceived in China and abroad. Through the rules, which will take effect Jan. 1, 2018, the administration hopes to ensure the healthy development of the domestic tourism market.

Liu Simin, vice president of tourism at the Beijing-based China Society for Future Studies, said the new rules are a detailed and updated version of a series of regulations issued in 2001.

The 2001 regulations listed some prohibited behaviors, and guides who were found in violation would have points deducted from their annual scores.

Guide services start with 10 points each year. Points are required to maintain a license. If all 10 are lost, the guide license will be revoked.

Forced shopping, verbal abuse of clients and even abandoning clients halfway through a tour were among the most-complained about misdeeds by tour guides in 2015-2016. “Against that backdrop, the new rules are more informative and accurate than the 2001 regulations,” Liu said. (China Daily)