Travel agencies and the municipal tourism department in Shanghai
launched a campaign to teach travelers how to behave when going
abroad during Spring Festival, or Chinese lunar New
Year.
Brochures and lectures on manners and etiquette were given to
travelers who were going to travel overseas.
"Try to present the positive image of Chinese citizen and put an
end to uncouth behaviors," Shanghai tourism commission issued
travel directions just days before Spring Festival.
It is embarrassing for China that some Chinese tourists exhibit
ungentlemanlike behavior in their visits abroad, and the phenomenon
has become the hot topic for media.
Some experts attribute the uncouth behavior to Chinese people's
lack of awareness of public property and selfishness.
A work staff of a Shanghai-based travel agency who declined to
give his surname told Xinhua News Agency that some ill behavior of
Chinese tourists could be traced back to their misunderstanding of
the local customs, and that's the reason his agency gave lectures
to travelers who are going to travel abroad.
Education in manners and etiquette has been strengthened in some
kindergartens and primary schools in China. But experts believe it
may take several generations to form a positive image of Chinese
tourists. Chinese tourists made 31 million trips abroad and 1.2
billion trips across the country in 2005. The number is expected to
leap to 100 million overseas trips by 2020.
(Xinhua News Agency February 22, 2007)