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Travel Agencies in Beijing to Receive Star
Rating
CRIENGLISH.com Apr. 14,
2007 - By this autumn, travelers in Beijing will be
able to
choose travel agencies as easily as they would a star-rated hotel, tourism
authorities announced on Thursday.
The first group of travel agencies to receive
star ratings will be announced in September.
Beijing's travel industry has grown quickly, now
with 797 travel agencies offering 222 international travel services and 575
domestic. For 2006, total revenue for travel agencies in Beijing is 31.7 billion
Yuan, an increase of 43% with a net gain of 2.4 billion, an increase of 64%
during the same period last year.
But behind the impressive gains, establishing a
standard credit system of travel agencies has been in demand. With thousands of
agencies to choose from, customers are hard pressed to make the best choice.
Fewer Tour Guides in Service
China.org.cn, June 9,
2006 - The China National Tourism Administration (CNTA),
the country's top industry authority, released their annual report on domestic
travel agencies on Monday. The report’s findings were made public by Xue Guifeng,
vice director of the Industry Management Department of CNTA. The report shows
that the number of travel agencies continues to rise but at a slower rate
compared to previous years. At the end of 2005 China had a total of 16,846
registered travel agencies -- 1,507 more than in 2004.
Of all the agencies 1590 are involved in authorized international business.
After the annual inspection 15,601 have been given approval to continue their
business, which accounts for 92.61 percent of the total. For poor service or
management the licenses of 436 travel agents have been canceled and 809
suspended. The report also shows a year-on-year rise in the revenues, gross
profits and taxes earned by travel agencies. The average gross profit margin was
reported as being 6.31 percent -- 1.19 percent up on 2004. There are
248,900 people working in these agencies, which is an increase of 1.1 percent
over 2004. The report shows the country has a total 295,300 licensed tour guides
with 93,900 working for travel agents -- a 6.47 percent drop from 2004. In 2005
just 31.8 percent of licensed tour guides were in active service with travel
firms while in 2004 that figure stood at 44.33 percent -- a fall of 13 percent.
There are 26 travel firms with foreign investment of which
five are under examination and waiting for approval, according to the report.
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