Tourism Law of the People’s Republic of China (Full Text)

Article 21 When utilizing natural resources and humanistic resources like cultural relics as tourism resources, relevant laws and regulations must be strictly abided by, the requirements on resources, ecological protection and the safety of cultural relics must be met, local traditional culture and customs must be respected and maintained, the regional integrity, cultural representation and local characteristics must be protected, and the need to protect military facilities must be taken into consideration. Competent departments shall intensify the supervision and examination of resource protection and the utilization of resources for the purpose of tourism. 

Article 22 Local people’s governments at all levels shall organize assessments of the implementation of the planning for tourism development compiled by the people’s governments of the same level, and shall make public the assessment result. 

Article 23 The State Council and the local people’s governments above the county level shall develop and organize the implementation of industrial policies beneficial to sustained and healthy tourism development, push forward the construction of tourism and leisure activities, take measures to advance regional tourism cooperation, encourage the development of inter-regional tourism routes and product development, promote the integration of tourism with such fields as industry, agriculture, commerce, culture, health, sports, science and education, etc., and support minority areas, old revolutionary bases, remote areas and poor areas to develop tourism. 

Article 24 The State Council and the local people’s governments above the county level shall allocate funds based on the local conditions, and intensify the construction of tourism infrastructure, public tourism services and the promotion of tourism images. 

Article 25 The State develops and puts into practice the tourism image promotion strategy. The department in charge of tourism under the State Council shall be responsible for making overall planning for promoting the national tourism image abroad, build tourism image promotion institutions and network, and conduct international tourism cooperation and communication.

The local people’s governments above the county level shall be responsible for the overall planning of local tourism image promotion.  

Article 26 The department in charge of tourism under the State Council and the local people’s governments above the county level shall build a tourism public information and consultation platform if necessary to provide information and advisory services on scenic spots, routes, transport, weather, accommodation, safety and first aid to tourists. Competent departments in the people’s governments of prefectures and counties having districts under its jurisdiction shall set up tourism information centers at transport hubs, in commercial centers and places where tourists concentrate, and set signs in scenic spots or along the roads leading to major scenic spots when necessary.

The people’s governments of prefectures and counties having districts with rich tourism resources under its jurisdiction may open tourist passenger lines or tourist transit stations based on local conditions to facilitate the transport of tourists in the city and the peripheral areas. 

Article 27 The State encourages and supports the development of vocational education and training in tourism, and the improvement of quality of personnel engaged in tourism. 

Chapter IV Tourism Operation

Article 28 The following requirements shall be met, approval from the tourism authority shall be obtained and industrial and commercial registration shall be made in accordance with the law in order to establish a travel agency, attract, organize and receive tourists, and provide tourism services: 

(1) Having a fixed business site;

(2) Having necessary business facilities;

(3) Having registered capital that conforms to the regulations; 

(4) Having necessary management staff and tour guides;

(5) Meeting other requirements set by laws and administrative regulations. 

Article 29 Travel agencies may engage in the following businesses: 

(1) Domestic tourism;

(2) Outbound tourism;

(3) Border tourism;

(4) Inbound tourism; 

(5) Other tourism businesses. 

To engage in items 2 and 3 above, a travel agency must obtain the required business license. Specific requirements shall be set by the State Council.

Article 30 Travel agencies are prohibited from leasing or lending their business licenses, or illegally transferring their business licenses in other forms.

Article 31 Travel agencies shall pay quality deposits for the tourism services they provide in accordance with the regulations before using it to compensate for the damages to the rights and interests of tourists and to pay the fees for first aid when the personal safety of tourists is in danger. 

Article 32 Information issued by travel agencies for the purpose of attracting and organizing tourists must be true and accurate, and must not be false or misleading.