Travel News
- HK struggles to resume image of tourism heaven
Date: 19-Apr-2007 Sources: (Xinhua Online)
Visiting Hong Kong, the nearest yet the most fascinating destination for a taste of both Chinese and Western culture, has become most Chinese mainland tourists' easy choice in recent years but they may think of other destinations as the city's image of tourists heaven tarnished by a series of events.
The endangered prospect of tourism has rung an alarm to the leadership of local tourism industry, which decided Wednesday to jointly crack the tourist shopping scams with both the government agency and the customs to save the city's image of heaven for tourists before the beginning of the week-long Labor Day holiday of May, or the 'golden week'.
Early this month, a report by CCTV (the influential central TV station in Chinese mainland) said a mainland tour group was taken to shop and two members in the group bought diamond pendant in Hung Hom and jewelry watch in To Kwa Wan. Both items are suspected of fake or overvalued after a test.
The Travel Industry Council, a local tourism industry federation, Tuesday announced to expand refunding period to 6 months from the previous 2 weeks since the purchasing date. Besides, shops registering for tour group business need to agree unconditional refund when customer represents the receipt even if the package of the purchasing item has been removed.
The council threatened that if shops involving tour group business break the new regulation, their reputation will be degraded and their bad behavior will be published through internet.
The authority hopes the new regulations which hopefully will be put in force in June may more or less save mainland tourists' confidence in shopping in Hong Kong. However, some of the industry analysts worried the time table of the enforcement is too late to benefit tourists during the incoming golden week at the beginning of May.
After hearing the new regulations, Mr. Wang, a mainland business man shopping in Causeway Bay, one of the shopping hubs of Hong Kong, said the new regulation obviously will provide more protect to mainland tourists who don't know much about the local language and environment. However, he said to forbidden the zero fee tour group, which totally depends on shopping commissions to cover all the tour expenses, may be the best way to solve the problem.
Hong Kong Customs also take actions recently by sending officers to the Chinese mainland to take statements from tourists claiming they were cheated while shopping in Hong Kong. Officials from Customs also said Tuesday that the department would enhance enforcement measures and sent undercover officers to check on shops.
And Hong Kong police said they may send officers on the street during the Labor Day holiday to help tourists if they are cheated or pressed to do shopping.
Shopping for luxuries like jewelry and world famous watches with quality guarantee is one of the attractions Hong Kong has to swarm of shoppers from Chinese mainland, especially during holidays. But market analysts said the scam happened recently may lead to the reduce of holiday business in jewelry and luxury watches.
Mr Chung, a watch shop owner in Causeway Bay, said he is not worrying about the holiday business because he believe the customers confidence may be resumed since the authority take stringent measure to crack cheating behavior.
Whether the series of measures will save the reputation of local tourism or not, the incoming 'golden week' holiday will be the prove.
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