Regulations on Travel Agencies (Revised in 2017)

Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China No.676

March 1, 2017

(Promulgated by the Order of the State Council of the People's Republic of China No.550 on February 20, 2009; revised for the first time in accordance with the Decision of the State Council on Revising Certain Administrative Regulations on February 6, 2016; and revised for the second time according to the Decision of the State Council on Revising and Repealing Certain Administrative Regulations on March 1, 2017)

Chapter I General Provisions

Article 1 These Regulations are hereby promulgated to strengthen management of travel agencies, guarantee the legitimate rights and interests of tourists and travel agencies, maintain the order of the tourist market, and promote the healthy development of the tourist industry.

Article 2 These Regulations are applicable to the establishment and business of the travel agencies within the territory of the People's Republic of China.
The travel agencies as mentioned in these Regulations refer to the operation activities entities engaged in domestic tourist business, inbound tourist business, or outbound tourist business, including soliciting for, organizing and receiving tourists and providing other tourist services to the tourists.

Article 3 The tourism competent authorities under the State Council shall take charge of the supervision and management of all travel agencies across the whole country.
The tourism administration departments under the people's governments at the county level or above shall be in charge of the supervision and management of travel agencies within their respective jurisdictions in accordance with their limits of power.
The departments of industry and commerce, price, business, foreign currency, etc. under the people's governments at the county level or above shall, in accordance with their limits of power, carry out supervision and management on the travel agencies in accordance with the law.

Article 4 While carrying out operation activities, the travel agencies shall observe the principles of voluntariness, equity, fairness, honesty, and creditability to improve service quality and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the tourists.

Article 5 The travel agencies industrial associations shall, in accordance with their regulations, provide the travel agencies with services, play a coordinating and self-discipline role, and guide the travel agencies to operate legally, fairly, and honestly.

Chapter II Establishment of Travel Agencies

Article 6 To apply for engaging in domestic tourist business and inbound tourist business, the applicant shall have corporate capacity, with a registered capital of not less than CNY 300,000.

Article 7 To apply for engaging in domestic tourist business and inbound tourist business, the applicant shall file an application with the competent tourism administration in the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under central government where it is domiciled or the competent tourism administration in the city divided into districts which has been entrusted and submit related documents as prescribed in Article 6 herein. And the competent tourism administration accepting the application shall make a decision whether or not to grant approval within 20 working days upon receiving the application. The administration shall grant the travel agency business license to the applicant if the application is approved, otherwise it shall notify the applicant of reasons in writing.

Article 8 The travel agencies which have obtained the business license for over 2 years and have not been fined or punished by other more severe means by administrative organs due to infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of any tourist, may apply for outbound tourist business.

Article 9 Where a travel agency desires to engage in outbound tourist business, it shall apply to the competent tourist authorities under the State Council or the local tourism administration department at the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government entrusted by the competent tourist authorities. The tourism administration department receiving application shall, within 20 working days upon receipt thereof, make decision of granting or not granting permission. Where permission is granted, the tourism administration department shall reissue a new license for business operations of travel agencies to the applicant. Where permission is not granted, the tourism administration department shall notify the applicant in written form and specify the reasons.

Article 10 Where a travel agency desires to establish branch(es) it shall register at the administrative department for industry and commerce at the place(s) where the branch(es) are located, and shall report to the local tourism administration department at the place(s) where the branch(es) are located for archival purpose within three working days since the date of registration.
The establishment of branch(es) of a travel agency is free of geographical restrictions. The business scope of a branch of a travel agency shall not exceed that of the travel agency.

Article 11 The travel agencies establishing service networks specialized in soliciting tourists and providing tourist consultations (hereinafter referred to as service networks of travel agencies) shall, in accordance with the law, go through registration procedures for establishment at the administrative department for industry and commerce and report to the local tourism administration department for archival purpose.
The service networks of travel agencies shall accept the unified management of travel agencies and shall not engage in activities other than soliciting and consultation.

Article 12 A travel agency altering its name, business venue or legal
representative or closing their businesses shall go through alteration procedures or cancellation registration at the administrative department for industry and commerce, and report to the tourism administration department that has previously granted permission within 10 working days as of the date when registrations are completed, to change or return the license for business operations of travel agencies.

Article 13 The travel agencies shall, within 3 working days since acquisition of the travel agency business licenses, open a special account of quality bond at the bank designated by the competent tourist authorities under the State Council, save the quality bond, or provide the tourism administration department granting permission with legally-acquired bank guarantee whose amounts are not lower than corresponding quality bond.
The travel agencies engaged in domestic tourist businesses and inbound tourism businesses shall save CNY200,000 of quality bond and the travel agencies engaged in outbound tourism businesses shall save CNY1,200,000 of quality bond in addition to the said CNY200,000.
The interests of the quality bond shall belong to the travel agencies.

Article 14 A travel agency shall save another CNY50,000 into the account of quality bond for establishment of each branch engaged in domestic tourist business and inbound tourist business, and shall save another CNY300,000 into the account of quality bond for establishment of each branch engaged in outbound tourist business.

Article 15 Under any of the following cases, the tourism administration department can use the quality bond of the travel agencies:
1 The travel agencies, in violation of the tourism contracts, infringe the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, which are verified by the tourism administration department; or
2 The travel agencies cause losses of the advance tourism payments of the tourists due to dissolution, bankruptcy or any other reason.

Article 16 Where the judgments and verdicts of the People's Court or other valid legal instruments show that the travel agencies have damaged the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, and the travel agencies refuse to or are unable to compensate, the people's court may deduct compensations from the travel agencies' accounts of quality bond.

Article 17 Where a travel agency is not fined or punished by other more severe means by the administrative organs due to infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of tourists within three years since payment or complementarity of quality bond, the tourism administration department shall reduce the quality bond of the travel agency by 50% and make announcement. The travel agency can reduce its quality bond by the evidential documents issued by the tourism administration department of the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under the Central Government.

Article 18 After the tourism administration department uses the quality assurance funds of a travel agency to compensate the losses of tourists or reduces its quality assurance funds, if the travel agency is fined or punished by other more severe means by the administrative organs due to infringement of the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, the travel agency shall, within 5 working days upon receipt of the notice for complementing the quality bond issued by the tourism administration department, complement the quality bond.

Article 19 Where a travel agency is no longer engaged in the tourist business, it may recover the quality bond from the bank with the credence issued by the tourism administration department.

Article 20 The specific management measures for payment and application of the quality bond shall be otherwise formulated by the competent tourist authorities under the State Council and the financial departments under the State Council, jointly with other competent departments.

Chapter III Foreign Investment Travel Agencies

Article 21 The provisions of this Chapter shall be applicable to the foreign Investment travel agencies; where there are no provisions in this Chapter, other provisions of these Regulations shall be applicable.
The foreign investment travel agencies referred to in the preceding paragraph shall include sino-foreign equity travel agencies, sino-foreign cooperative travel agencies, and solely foreign investment travel agencies.

Article 22 To apply for engaging in the travel agency businesses, a foreign-invested travel agency shall file an application with the competent tourism administration in the province, autonomous region or municipality directly under central government where it is domiciled and submit related documents as prescribed in Article 6 herein. The competent tourism administration shall finish examination and review within 30 working days upon accepting the application, and grant the travel agency business license to the applicant if the application is approved, otherwise it shall notify the applicant of the rejection and explain reasons in writing.
"The establishment of a foreign-invested travel agency shall also be in compliance with the laws and regulations on foreign investment.

Article 23 The foreign investment travel agencies shall not engage in outbound tourist businesses of Chinese mainland residents, or engage in tourist business of them to Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region or Taiwan, except as otherwise specified by the decisions of the State Council, the free trade agreements entered into by China, or arrangements on establishing closer economic and trade relations between the Mainland as well as Hong Kong and Macao.

Chapter IV Operation of Travel Agencies

Article 24 The travel agencies must provide tourists with truthful and reliable tourist service information, and shall not make false propaganda.

Article 25 The travel agencies engaged in outbound tourist business shall not organize tourists to travel in the countries and places not included in the outbound tourist destinations announced by the competent tourist authorities of the State Council for Chinese citizens.

Article 26 The travel agencies shall not arrange or introduce tourist activities containing contents violating the laws and regulations.

Article 27 The travel agencies shall not solicit tourists with quotations lower than tourist costs. Without the consent of tourists, the travel agencies shall not provide any other paid services excluded in the tourist contracts.

Article 28 Where a travel agency provided services for tourists, it shall enter into tourism contracts with tourists and specify the following matters in the contract:
1 Name, business scope, address, telephone number, and serial number of its license for business operation of travel agency;
2 Name and telephone number of the person in charge of the travel agency;
3 Place and date of signing the contract;
4 The place of departure, passing places, and destination of the traveling routes;
5 The arrangement of transportation, accommodation, catering services during the travel and standards thereof;
6 The specific contents and time for the visiting items arranged by the travel agency in a unified manner;
7 Time and frequency of leeway;
8 Tourist payments to be paid by the tourists and ways to pay;
9 Times and stop-over time of shopping arranged by travel agency, as well as the name of the shopping place;
10 Visiting items to be otherwise paid by tourists and prices thereof;
11 Conditions for dissolving or changing the contract as well as time limit for advance notice;
12 Dispute resolution mechanism and responsibilities to be undertaken for breach of contract;
13 Telephone numbers for travel services supervision and complaint; and
14 Other contents unanimously agreed upon by both parties.

Article 29 While entering into tourism contacts with tourists, the travel agencies shall give true, accurate, and complete instructions to the specific contents of the contracts.
In case of indefinite agreement in the tourism contract entered into by the travel agencies and tourists or disputes in understanding of the standard clauses, general understanding shall be followed for interpretations thereof. Where there are over two kinds of interpretations for the standard clauses, the interpretation in favor of the tourists shall prevail. Where the standard clauses and non-standard clauses are inconsistent, the non-standard clauses shall prevail.

Article 30 The travel agencies organizing outbound tourists for Chinese mainland residents shall arrange tour leaders to accompany the tourist team.

Article 31 The tour guides appointed by the travel agencies for reception of tourists shall hold the tourist certificates as prescribed by the State.
If a travel agency licensed for outbound tourism business appoints tour leaders for the organization of outbound tourists, it shall obtain the tourist certificates, and shall have corresponding academic qualifications, language skills, and tourism industry experience, and shall enter into an employment contract with the travel agency appointing it to lead the tour. The travel agency shall report the list of the tour leaders thereof to the local tourism administration department in the city with districts for record filing.

Article 32 Travel agencies employing tour guides and tour leaders shall enter into labor contracts in accordance with the law, and pay remunerations not lower than the local minimum wage standard to them.

Article 33 The travel agencies, as well as the tour guides and tour leaders appointed thereby, shall not have any of the following actions:
1 Refusing to fulfill the obligations as agreed in the tourism contracts;
2 Changing the travel routes as arranged in the tourist contracts for reasons other than force majeure; or
3 Deceiving and forcing tourists to do some shopping or take part in the visiting items to be otherwise paid.

Article 34 The travel agencies shall not request tour guides or tour leaders to receive tourists teams not paying reception or service fees or paying fees lower than the reception or service costs, and shall not request the tour guide or tour leaders to undertake the relevant fees for receiving tourist teams.

Article 35 The travel agencies, in violation of the tourism contracts, causing damages to the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, shall take the necessary remedial measures and timely report the cases to the tourism administration department.

Article 36 The travel agencies in need of making commissions for the tourist businesses, shall entrust the businesses to the travel agencies with corresponding qualifications, obtain consent of the tourists, and enter into commission contracts with the travel agencies accepting commission on reception of the tourists, to clarify the service arrangement and standards for reception of tourists and the rights and obligations of both parties.

Article 37 The travel agencies entrusting tourist business to other travel agencies shall pay expenses not lower than the reception and service costs. The travel agencies accepting commission shall not receive tourist teams not paying or not fully paying the reception and service expenses.
Where the travel agency accepting the commission breaches of contract and causes damage to the legitimate rights and interests of the tourists, the travel agencies making such commission shall undertake corresponding liabilities for compensation. The travel agencies making such commission, after making compensation, may claim for compensation from the travel agencies accepting such commission.
The travel agencies accepting such commission damaging the legitimate interests and rights of the tourists deliberately or due to gross negligence, shall be jointly and severally liable.

Article 38 The travel agencies shall cover liability insurance of travel agencies. The specific plan for liability insurance for travel agencies shall be otherwise formulated by the competent tourist authorities under the State Council, jointly with the insurance regulatory department under the State Council.

Article 39 The travel agencies shall give real instructions and clear warnings to the tourists for matters that may endanger personnel safety and property safety of tourists, and adopt necessary measures to prevent harm.
In case of situation endangering personnel safety of tourists, the travel agencies as well as the tour guides and tour leaders appointed thereby shall adopt necessary disposal measures and report to the tourism administration department in a timely manner. Where such situation happens outside the territory of China, they shall promptly report to the embassy of the People's Republic of China in that county, relevant institution functioning abroad, and the local police.

Article 40 Where tourists stay outside the territory of China and do not return, the tour leaders appointed by the travel agencies shall report to the embassy of the People's Republic of China in that county and relevant institution functioning abroad in a timely manner. The travel agencies receiving the report shall, in a timely manner, report the cases to the tourism administration department and public security organs, and assist in providing information of the illegal aliens.
The travel agencies finding illegal detaining within the territory of China when receiving inbound tourist business shall promptly report the cases to the tourism administration department, the public security organs and the foreign affairs, and shall assist in providing information of the illegal aliens.

Chapter V Supervision and Inspection

Article 41 The departments of tourism, industry and commerce, price, business, and foreign exchange, etc. shall strengthen supervision and administration towards travel agencies, and dispose of illegal cases (if any) in a timely manner.

Article 42 The departments of tourism, industry and commerce, and price shall timely announce the results of the supervision and inspections. The contents of announcement shall include the issuance, alteration, revocation and cancellation of the License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies, the illegal behaviors of travel agency, its good faith records, complaints of tourists, etc.

Article 43 Where a travel agency impairs the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, tourists may lodge a complaint to the tourism administration department, the administrative department for industry and commerce, the competent price department, the competent commerce authorities, or the competent foreign exchange department. The department accepting the complaint shall, in a timely manner, investigate and dispose of cases in accordance with their jurisdictions, and notify tourists of the relevant information on investigation and disposal.

Article 44 The travel agency and its branch agencies shall subject to the supervision and inspection by the tourism administration departments over their business operations in such aspects as tourism contracts, service quality, tourist security and financial accounts, etc. and submit statistical information on operation and financial information to tourism administration departments in accordance with the relevant regulations of the state.

Article 45 Personnel of the departments of tourism, industry and commerce, price, business, and foreign currency, etc. shall not accept any gift from travel agencies, participate in shopping activities or tourist activities which are paid by travel agencies, nor seek personal interests for themselves, their relatives or other individuals or organizations through travel agencies.

Chapter VI Legal Liabilities

Article 46 If anyone violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department or the administrative department for industry and commerce shall order him/her to rectify, confiscate his/her illegal gains and concurrently impose a fine of not less than 1 time, but not more than 5 times of the illegal gains where the illegal gains are more than CNY100,000; or concurrently impose a fine of not less than CNY100,000, but not more than CNY500,000 where the illegal gains are less than CNY100,000 or there is no illegal gains:
1. Where it engages in domestic tourist business, inbound tourist business, or outbound tourist business without obtaining the License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies;
2. In the event the branch operates tourist businesses beyond the business scope of the travel agency which has set up the branch; or
3. In the event the service outlets of a travel agency engage in business activities other than business soliciting and consultation.

Article 47 Where a travel agency transfers, leases or lends the License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies, the tourism administration department shall order it to suspend business for internal rectification, and confiscate its illegal gains; where the case is serious, the department shall revoke its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies. Where it transfers or leases the License for Business Operation, the tourism administration department shall order it to suspend illegal operation, confiscate illegal gains and concurrently impose a fine of not less than CNY100,000, but not more than CNY500,000.

Article 48 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, fails to deposit, add, or supplement quality bond to the account of quality bond or provide bank guarantee within a prescribed time limit, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify; in case the travel agency resists rectification, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies shall be revoked.

Article 49 Where the travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, fails to cover liability insurance of travel agency, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify; in case the travel agency resists rectification, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies shall be revoked.

Article 50 If a travel agency violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify; in case it resists rectification, a fine of not more than CNY10,000 shall be imposed:
1. Where it fails to report to the tourism administration department which issued the original license for the record, change or return the License for Business Operation of Travel agencies within the prescribed time limit when it changes the registered items of name, place of business, legal representatives, etc. or stop operation;
2. Where it fails to report to the tourism administration department governing the place where the branch is located within a prescribed time limit when it establishes a branch; or
3. It fails to submit statistical information on operation and financial information to the tourism administration department in accordance with relevant provisions of the state.

Article 51 Where a foreign investment travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, engages in outbound tourist business that Chinese mainland residents travel in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan area, or a travel agency engaging in outbound tourist business organizes for tourists to travel in countries and districts other than the outbound travel destinations for Chinese citizens promulgated by the tourism administration department of the State Council, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify, confiscate its illegal gains, and concurrently impose a fine of not less than 1 time, but not more than 5 times of the illegal gains where the illegal gains is more than CNY100,000; or concurrently impose a fine of not less than CNY100,000, but not more than CNY500,000 where the illegal gains is less than CNY100,000 or there is no illegal gains; where the case is serious, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies shall be revoked.

Article 52 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, organizes or introduces activities for tourists which contain contents violating the provisions of relevant laws and regulations, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify, confiscate its illegal gains and concurrently impose a fine of not less than CNY20,000, but not more than CNY100,000; where the case is serious, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies shall be revoked.

Article 53 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, provides tourists with tourist service information containing false contents, or conducts false publicity, the administrative department for industry and commerce shall impose punishments pursuant to law.
Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, solicits for tourists on the basis of quotes lower than travel costs, the competent price department shall impose punishments pursuant to law.

Article 54 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, offers other paid service that are not stipulated in the tourism contracts without the approval of tourists, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY10,000, but not more than CNY50,000.

Article 55 Where a travel agency violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY20,000, but not more than CNY100,000; where the case is serious, it shall be ordered to suspend business for internal rectification for a period of 1 month to 3 months:
1. It fails to conclude tourism contracts with tourists;
2. Issues prescribed in Article 28 of these Regulations are not included in the tourism contracts concluded with tourists;
3. It entrusts tourist business to other travel agencies without the approval of tourists;
4. It entrusts tourist business to travel agencies without the relevant qualifications; or
5. It fails to conclude entrustment contracts with the entrusted travel agencies on the issues concerning the reception of tourists.

Article 56 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, organizes outbound travel for Chinese mainland citizens without appointing a tour leader to accompany the tourist team in the whole trip, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY10,000, but not more than CNY50,000; in case the travel agency resists rectification, it shall be ordered to suspend business for internal rectification for a period of 1 month to 3 months.

Article 57 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of the Regulations, appoints tour guides without holding the tourist certificates or tour leaders without obtaining a tour leader certificate as required, the tourism administration department shall order it to effect rectification and impose a fine of not less than CNY20,000, but not more than CNY100,000.

Article 58 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, fails to pay remuneration to the employed tour guides and tour leaders, or the paid remuneration is lower than the minimum local wage, it shall be disposed of in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Labor Contract Law of the People's Republic of China.

Article 59 Where a travel agency, tour guide or tour leader violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department or the administrative department for industry and commerce shall order the travel agency to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY100,000, but not more than CNY500,000; the tourism administration department shall order the tour guide or tour leader to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY10,000, but not more than CNY50,000; where the case is serious, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies, Tour Guide Certificate shall be revoked:
1. Where it resists to fulfill the obligations stipulated in tourism contracts;
2. Where it changes the arrangement of journey included in tourism contracts not due to force majeure; or
3. Where it cheats or threats tourists to buy goods or take part in tourist activities demanding additional payment.

Article 60 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, asks tour guides and tour leaders to receive tourist teams which do not pay reception and service expenses, or the expenses paid are lower than the reception and service costs, or asks tour guides and tour leaders to assume the relevant expenses for receiving tourist teams, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY20,000, but not more than CNY100,000.

Article 61 Where a travel agency violates the stipulations of tourism contracts, impairs the legitimate rights and interests of tourists and does not take necessary remedies, the tourism administration department or the administrative department for industry and commerce shall order it to rectify and impose a fine of not less than CNY10,000, but not more than CNY50,000; where the case is serious, the tourism administration department shall revoke its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies.

Article 62 Where a travel agency violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department shall order it to rectify and suspend business for internal rectification for a period of 1 month to 3 months; where the case is serious, its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies shall be revoked:
1. Where the travel agency fails to pay reception and service expenses to entrusted travel agencies;
2. Where the expenses paid by the travel agency to entrusted travel agencies are lower than the reception and service costs; or
3. Where entrusted travel agencies receive tourist teams who fail to pay all or part of reception and service expenses.

Article 63 Where a travel agency or any of its appointed tour guides or tour leaders violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the tourism administration department shall order them to rectify, impose a fine of not less than CNY20,000, but not more than CNY100,000 to the travel agency; and impose a fine of not less than CNY4,000, but not more than CNY20,000 to the tour guide or tour leader; where the case is serious, the travel agency shall be ordered to suspend business for internal rectification for a period of 1 month to 3 months, or its License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies, his/her Tour Guide Certificate shall be revoked:
1. Where it fails to take necessary measures and report in a timely manner when there is any circumstance that endangers the safety of tourists;
2. Where the travel agency fails to report cases and provide support in offering information on illegal stayers in a timely manner when any tourist in outbound travel organized by the travel agency illegally stays out of the territory; or
3. Where the travel agency fails to report cases and provide support in offering information on illegal stayers in a timely manner when any tourist in inbound travel received by travel agency illegally stays within the territory.

Article 64 The travel agencies subject to criminal punishments due to obstructing of administration in national (territorial) boundaries shall not engage in business operation activities of travel agencies within five years after the completion of punishments; where the License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies of a travel agency is revoked, its chief leaders shall not assume the position as a chief leader of any travel agency within five years as of the date when the License for Business Operation of Travel Agencies is revoked.

Article 65 Where a travel agency, in violation of the provisions of these Regulations, impairs the legitimate rights and interests of tourists, it shall assume relevant civil liabilities; where a crime is constituted, its criminal liabilities shall be investigated pursuant to law.

Article 66 Where any of the tourism administration departments or other relevant departments and their personnel violates the provisions of these Regulations in any of the following circumstances, the directly responsible person and other directly responsible persons shall be punished pursuant to law:
1. Where they fail to dispose of illegal behaviors in a timely manner;
2. Where they fail to make announcement to disclose the information on the supervision and inspection of travel agencies to the public in a timely manner;
3. Where they fail to dispose of complaints of tourists and notify the relevant information on the investigation and disposal to tourists in a timely manner;
4. Where they accept the gifts of travel agencies;
5. Where they take part in shopping activities or tour activities paid by travel agencies; or
6. Where they seek personal benefits for themselves, their relatives or other individuals and organizations through travel agencies.

Chapter VII Supplementary Provisions

Article 67 These Regulations shall apply to travel agencies established in the mainland by investors from the Hong Kong Special Administration Region, Macao Special Administrative Region and Taiwan area.

Article 68 These Regulations shall come into force as of May 1, 2009. The Regulations on the Administration of Travel Agencies promulgated by the State Council on October 15, 1996 shall be abolished at the same time.