An influx of dodgy Chinese tour operators has prompted the South Korean government to mount a clampdown.
Authorities say they will tighten regulations on tour operators that lure Chinese travellers with cheap, low-quality packages to screen out substandard agencies and improve the tourism industry’s competitiveness.
A key problem is the practice of forcing travellers to shop at particular retailers in return for brokerage fees.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said Tuesday it will form a task force with related organisations to crack down on tour operators that offer low-quality programs.
“As the inbound travel market is the key industry directly linked to the national image and interests, the government and industry should make concerted efforts to correct the market order and improve the quality of the overall market,” vice culture Minister Kim Chong said in a briefing.
In March, the ministry revoked the licenses of 68 tour operators, about 40 per cent of the agencies specialising in Chinese travellers, for offering unreasonably cheap prices and employing unqualified tour guides.
Tour agencies targeting the Chinese have sprung up in recent years as the popularity of K-pop and Korean dramas have attracted more visitors from the Asian neighbour. But cutthroat competition has prompted some agencies to offer cheap package programs that include filthy rooms and expensive options, and often force tourists to drop by several souvenir shops to reap commissions.
A recent tourism survey revealed that overall satisfaction among Chinese travelers fell 0.7 percentage point to 94.1 per cent in 2015. In particular, group travellers were less content with dining experiences than individual tourists.
The ministry will also step up monitoring on unqualified tour guides near shopping centres and offer customised tour guide training programs in the medical, heritage and sports sectors.
To address growing complaints, top tourism officials of South Korea, China and Japan will have a trilateral meeting in August to discuss ways to enhance the quality of the tourism industry in the respective countries and screen out substandard operators.
The number of Chinese tourists visiting South Korea had sharply risen since 2010, but it fell 2.3 per cent on-year to 5.98 million in 2015, hurt by the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome outbreak.
South Korea aims to attract 8 million Chinese tourists this year by offering various specialised tour packages in fashion, beauty, culture and leisure; adopting eased visa regulations; and expanding air routes between the two nations.
- Original reporting by Korea Bizwire.