Beijingers who plan to travel to Hong Kong will be able to join tours without forced shopping and extra charges, the head of Hong Kong's tourism authority promised.
James Tien, chairman of the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), was on a trip to the mainland to restore the image of Hong Kong tourism, which has been tarnished by a number of scandals in recent months.
Many tourist companies offered Hong Kong tours at very low prices to travelers from the mainland, but then forced participants to buy goods in assigned stores or pay extra charges.
In March, Li Qiaozhen, a guide in Hong Kong, rebuked a group of mainland tourists from Anhui province with humiliating language, because they, on a tour costing only 610 yuan per person, did not purchase many goods. The video recording of Li's abuse was posted on the Internet and then broadcast by many mainland TV channels. The incident provoked outrage in both the mainland and Hong Kong.
Tien said on Tuesday that HKTB suggested tourists from the mainland join prime tours charging around 4,000 yuan per person, and reminded people that Hong Kong is a high-cost tourist destination.
"It is impossible to enjoy a decent tour paying only around 1,000 yuan," Tien said.
To encourage tourists to pay more for their tours, the HKTB is promoting "prime and credible Hong Kong tours" in Beijing, as well as other big mainland cities.
It is cooperating with four travel agencies in the city - China International Travel Service, China Youth Travel Service, China Travel Service and Chunqiu International Travel Service - to offer tours without forced shopping and extra charges.
Yang Yang, general manager of the Chunqiu International Travel Service, said the prime Hong Kong tours offered by his agency, assigned by the HKTB, cost from 3,000 to 5,000 yuan.
Li Qiaozhen, who has been fired by her travel agency, publicly apologized on Tuesday.
"I hope the citizens of Hong Kong and the mainland will forgive my mistake," she said during a press conference.
Tien admitted that the scandals have affected the image of Hong Kong tourism, and that despite recent efforts, "it still needs time to redeem its reputation."
Many travel agencies, however, are still offering Hong Kong tours at incredibly low prices. METRO called a travel agency based in Shenzhen, which offers Hong Kong tours including a four-day tour for 800 yuan and a one-day tour for only 80 yuan. The employee answering the phone insisted that there is no forced shopping in the tours.
"There will be stores where tourists can shop voluntarily," he said.
