Tourists urged to get rid of bad habits (Xinhua) Updated: 2006-05-05 13:11
Some Chinese tourists are being warned that while their bad social graces
such as spitting, slurping food and jumping queues may merely disgust people at
home and they are sometimes not at all tolerated in other countries.
Zhang Xiao was warned about this by his travel agent as he prepared for
a holiday that would take him to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand during the
week-long May Day holiday.
A tip card sent by the travel agency reminded
him that chewing gum is forbidden in public in Singapore and that he should wear
long trousers and a shirt with sleeves during visits to temples and the palace
of Thailand.
"I've read the tips on the card carefully. We are
representing the image of China when traveling abroad, it's our responsibility
to improve our manners," said Zhang, who was getting ready for his third trip
abroad.
The increasing number of Chinese tourists traveling abroad may
be a huge new source of income to destination countries, but that won't prevent
complaints against individuals from reflecting badly on all of China.
The media in Singapore reports that hotel staff are upset with Chinese
tourists spitting in their rooms and smoking in bed. The hotels have had to
shampoo the carpet after and replace bed linen after a Chinese tour group passed
through.
Singapore airline companies also criticized Chinese tourists
for talking loudly and being very rude.
Even Hong
Kong newspapers have pointed out that some mainlanders lack manners and social
graces.
During the week-long May Day holiday this
year, tour operators in Shanghai alone have organized 1,227 group tours with
more than 20,000 tourists for travel overseas.
Tourism bureaus in Anhui, Sichuan and Chongqing required
local travel agencies to not only protect the safety of tourists but ensure
their clients they take overseas travel with manners.
In many places in Europe and North America, eating with an
open mouth or lip smacking can be an instant turn off. European hosts, friends
or even people at the next table might be disgusted by what they perceive as a
such a lack of table manners and even think that Chinese are rude.
Ge Yucui, a tourist guide for the Kanghui International
Travel Agency in Anhui Province, said she checked the laws and regulations and
local customs before the tour to the Republic of Korea.
"We organized meetings and sent tip cards to the members of
the tour," Ge said, adding that "the guides play an important role in helping
the tourists get rid of bad habits."
Sun Jing, a
member of the tour, said the tip cards helped him better understand how to
behave when traveling abroad.
However, travel agent Ge Yucui said Chinese
travelers still have a lot of travel etiquette to learn.
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