Laws of the People's Republic of China

    Article 1  These Provisions are formulated in order to strengthen the
unified administration of affairs concerning tourist guides throughout the
country, to improve the quality standard of tourist services, to protect the
lawful rights and interests of tourist guides, and to promote the sound
development of the tourist industry.

    Article 2  The term "tourist guides", as used in these Provisions, refers
to those working personnel who make arrangements for tours and sightseeing for
tourists (including tourist groups, the same below), serve as tourist guides
and interpreters, and provide other services for tourists during their
sightseeing trips.

    Tourist guides shall, at the request of tourists, use foreign languages,
the Chinese putonghua or various Chinese dialects, and languages of minority
nationalities, respectively in their tourist work.

    Article 3  Tourist guides are divided into three categories:
full-itinerary guides, local guides, and spot guides.

    "Full-itinerary guides" refer to those personnel who are appointed or
engaged by tourist agencies (including tourist companies, the same below) to
provide full-itinerary services for those tourists who make a trans-regional
tour beyond the confines of provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities
directly under the Central Government.

    "local guides" refer to those personnel who are appointed or engaged by
tourist agencies to provide tourist services for those tourists who make a
tour within the confines of a province, an autonomous region, or a
municipality directly under the Central Government.

    "Spot guides" refer to those personnel who are appointed or engaged by
tourist agencies to provide tourist services for those tourists who make a
tour within the confines of a certain scenic spot.

    Article 4  The legitimate rights and interests of tourist guides shall be
protected by Laws of the State, no institutions or individuals shall be
permitted to interfere illegally with the tourist guides in execution of their
tasks.

    Article 5  The duties of tourist guides shall be as follows:

    (1) to accept the tourist tasks assigned by their tourist agency, and make
arrangements, in accordance with the reception plan, for taking tourists on a
sightseeing tour;

    (2) to accompany tourists on a sightseeing tour, explain to them and
disseminate among them the Chinese culture;

    (3) to work in coordination with the departments concerned and urge them
to make arrangements for the tourists' transportation, meals, and
accommodation, and to protect the safety of the tourists and their properties
and belongings;

    (4) to make the tourists' requests and complaints known to whom it may
concern and provide assistance in making arrangements for such activities as
interviews, informal discussions, etc.;

    (5) to answer the questions and inquiries raised by tourists, and assist
in solving problems that crop up during the sightseeing tour.

    Article 6  Tourist guides shall meet the following qualifications:

    (1) they must be citizens of the People's Republic of China, have a deep
love for their motherland, uphold the socialist system, observe disciplines
and abide by the laws, comply with the professional ethics of tourism, and
serve tourists wholeheartedly;

    (2) they must have a schooling above the senior middle school level and
the command of language and power of expression needed for a qualified tourist
guide;

    (3) they must be familiar with the tourist business, and possess the
ability of organization in reception work;

    (4) they must be in good health, and adaptable to the needs of work.

    Article 7  Those meeting the qualifications mentioned in the preceding
Article shall take and pass a qualification examination and go through the
registration formalities before they are permitted to take up the job of a
tourist guide.

    Article 8  Graduates of institutions of higher learning who have been
assigned to work in a tourist agency and who have met the qualifications
specified in Article 6 may serve as probationary tourist guides for one year
before they become regular tourist guides after passing the qualification
examination.

    Article 9  A tourist agency may, in light of needs of work, advertise for
the engagement of amateur tourist guides from society. Those who have met the
qualifications listed in Article 6 of these Provisions shall present the
relevant certifications, pass the qualification examination before they are
permitted to take up the job of an amateur tourist guide.

    Article 10  The qualification examination for tourist guides shall be
organized and administered by the examination committee, which is established
with the approval of the tourism administration department of the province,
autonomous region, or municipality directly under the Central Government, and
be placed under the unified leadership and arrangement by the national
examination committee established with the approval from the National Tourism
Administration.

    Article 11  Those who have passed the qualification examination shall go
through the procedures for registration with the National Tourism
Administration or with the tourism administration departments of various
provinces, autonomous regions, or municipalities directly under the Central
Government, and obtain the certificate for tourist guides.

    Article 12  The chief duties of a tourist agency in its routine
administrative work relating to tourist guides shall be as follows:

    (1) to carry on education in political ideology, professional ethics,
legality, and discipline;

    (2) to conduct training in tourist business operations;

    (3) to be responsible for assessment, reward and punishment work inside
the tourist agency;

    (4) to deal with tourists' complaints concerning tourist guides.

    Article 13  The tourism administration department may send personnel to
inspect the work of tourist guides. The tourist guides concerned may not
refuse such inspection without justification. Inspectors shall, while
executing their inspection tasks, produce the certification for the inspection
issued by the tourism administration departments.

    Article 14  Tourist guides shall, while executing their tasks, wear the
badge for tourist guides, and carry along with them the certificate for
tourist guides.

    Article 15  Tourist guides who have carried out these Provisions
conscientiously, have made great achievements in their work, and have
distinguished themselves by offering tourists excellent service, shall be
rewarded by the tourism administration department or by their tourist agency.

    Article 16  Tourist guides, who have committed one of the following acts,
shall be punished by the tourism administration department:

    (1) those who fail to carry out the various duties stipulated in Article 5
of these Provisions, and cause grave consequences shall, depending on the
seriousness of the cases, be given disciplinary sanctions, and may have their
tourist guides' badges and certificates withheld;

    (2) those who unjustifiably refuse to submit themselves to inspection in
contravention of the stipulations in Article 13 of these Provisions shall have
their badges and certificates withheld;

    (3) those who have committed the acts mentioned in the preceding two
paragraphs, if the case is extremely abominable, shall, with the approval from
the tourism administration department of the province, autonomous region, or
municipality directly under the Central Government, have their badges and
certificates revoked and their registration as tourist guides cancelled.

    Article 17  Those who have illegally interfered in the work of tourist
guides and caused consequences shall be dealt with by the tourism
administration department in coordination with other departments concerned.
The departments concerned shall give their support.

    Article 18  Those, who have not taken the prescribed qualification
examination and gone through the registration procedures in accordance with
these Provisions, shall not be permitted to take up the job of a tourist
guide. With respect to those who, without permission, have conducted
activities of tourist guides and received tourist fees, the tourism
administration department shall confiscate the violators' illegal gains, and
may also impose a fine equal to three times as much, or less, as the amount of
illegal gains.

    Article 19  If a violator refuses to accept the decision of penalty by the
tourism administration department, he/she may, within 15 days after receiving
the notification of punishment, lodge an appeal to the tourism administration
department at a higher level; the tourism administration department at a
higher level shall give reply within 15 days after receiving the appeal.

    Article 20  The right to interpret these Provisions shall reside in the
National Tourism Administration, and the rules for the implementation of these
Provisions shall be formulated by the National Tourism Administration.

    Article 21  These Provisions shall go into effect on March 1, 1988.