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Chinese tourist improving their behavior is a reality

Chinese tourists have shocked the International community through several events, but  the authorities are taking measures to tackle their tourists bad reputation issues.

Here is how they intend to improve the Chinese tourists behaviors:

Bad manners

Last year Chinese tourists created several worldwide bad buzz with their poor behavior abroad. Last summer some of them confused the fountain outside the Louvre Museum for a foot spa.

chinese-louvre

And in May 2013 a teenager from Nanjing also thought it would be cool to write a graffiti on a figure in the sculpture of the Luxor Temple in Egypt.

The lack of manners of the Chinese has largely been criticized since the events. Moreover Chinese tourist brings with them some habits that are acceptable in mainland China but considered rude or highly annoying in other cultures.

Thus most of Chinese tourists that are travelling abroad usually spit, litter everywhere, speak loudly, and jump queues. Those behaviors can be attributed to their cultural environment, since all the above mentioned behaviors are fairly normal in China.

Spitting is even part of the etiquette in the Chinese society since it is supposed to be good for the health to clear the lungs and throat. Habits that are considered excellent etiquette in one society may shock in a different environment.This is why Chinese authorities decided to take measures to try to stop such behaviors abroad.

Measures

Wang Yang, a Chinese vice-premier, said after the incidents that the misconduct of tourists had a very bad impact on the image of the Chinese people and therefore China.

In February 2013 Huang Bo a famous Chinese actor posted on Weibo how ashamed he was to see“ Zhong Hua” ‘s famous Chinese cigarette boxes floating in the sea water as he was diving during his holiday in Palau, the Pacific island.

cigarettes Palau

Later that year in October, the Chinese government started to take measures with the release of a “Guidebook to Civilised Tourism” that provided Chinese tourists with guidelines to follow when traveling abroad. It was made by China’s National Tourism Administration and was 64 pages long of dos and don’ts. It contained instructions such as: not to pick your nose in public, leave footprints on public toilet seats, or steal life jackets and so on.

guidebook tourism

Another attempt to improve the national image was made by CCTV, Chinese National Television who broadcasted educational clips. In order to help the government promoting polite behaviors towards Chinese tourists travelling abroad.

In September 2014, as President Xi Jinping was on an official visit to the Maldives. He took the opportunity to remind the Chinese tourists that they should not litter water bottles everywhere in order not to damage the coral reefs.  He also jokingly added that eat less instant noodles and more local food wouldn’t hurt either.

So that there are many indications that China has really made efforts to reverse the unfavorable image of their tourists.

This is a proof that, with time as Chinese citizens will get a better education on how to behave abroad and improve their public manners. They will in the same time improve their reputation and the one of their country.  Setting good examples abroad will help regain a good image for China and promote mutual understanding that will help Chinese contractors to build projects internationally.

How can tourist agencies can benefit from that?

When Chinese tourists improve their behavior they have a lesser tendencies of being badly welcomed by the staff in some countries. Indeed, in some countries, if the tourist are deemed rude and impolite, even though it is only cultural difference, they will not be warmly welcomed. If they are not welcomed properly by the staff they will in turn be disappointed and then will pot bad user experience. This leads to a negative spiral.

With Chinese tourist learning more about traveling experience and how to adapt to the overseas experience, everything runs more smoothly. This benefits tourism  agencies, Chinese tourist and tourism resorts alike.

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