China National Tourism Administration, Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations Implementing Rules

Promulgated: December 27 2001
Effective: as of date of promulgation
Interpreting authority: China National Tourism Administration
Applicability: The Rules also apply to travel agencies established before the promulgation of the Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations (Article 66).

Main contents: These Rules, together with the Quality Security Funds of Travel Agencies Tentative Provisions; Compensation Using Quality Security Funds of Travel Agencies Tentative Provisions; Travel Agencies Getting Liability Insurance for Travel Agencies Provisions; Administration of Verifying the Qualifications of Managers of Travel Agencies Provisions; and Administration of the Examination and Approval of the Establishment of Resident Offices by Foreign Travel Agencies in China Procedures form the implementing rules of the Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations. According to the Rules, resident offices of foreign travel agencies in China shall not solicit nor conduct travel agency business, including reservation of lodging, meals, shelter and transportation tickets (Article 3). With approval by the China National Tourism Administration, international travel agencies in China may arrange overseas, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or border tours for Chinese domestic residents (Article 4). An approved international travel agency or domestic travel agency shall be granted an International Travel Agency Business Permit or Domestic Travel Agency Business Permit, as the case may be, and the permit shall specify the scope of business of the travel agency concerned (Article 21). If an international travel agency wants to operate overseas, Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan or border tours, it shall apply to the National Tourism Administration for approval (Article 22). If a domestic travel agency wants to become an international travel agency or vice versa, it shall follow the procedures for establishing a new travel agency (Article 24). A travel agency may set up non-legal person branches if it meets the conditions set out in the Rules, including an annual business volume of over 100,000 customers and being ranked in the top 100 travel agencies of the nation (Articles 29 and 31). The Rules also contain detailed provisions on the protection of the rights and interests of travel agency customers (Part Eight).
Related legislation: Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations, Oct 15 1996, CLP 1997 No.1 p10; Quality Security Funds of Travel Agencies Tentative Provisions; Compensation Using Quality Security Funds of Travel Agencies Tentative Provisions; Travel Agencies Getting Liability Insurance for Travel Agencies Provisions; Administration of Verifying the Qualifications of Managers of Travel Agencies Provisions and Administration of the Examination and Approval of the Establishment of Resident Offices by Foreign Travel Agencies in China Procedures

Repealed legislation: China National Tourism Administration, Administration of Travel Agencies Tentative Regulations Implementing Procedures, Jun 1 1988 and China National Tourism Administration, Administration of Travel Agencies Regulations Implementing Rules, Nov 28 1996