CNTA has officially issued Program for Quality Upgrading of Tourism Services

China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has recently issued Program for Quality Upgrading of Tourism Services (2009-2015) (hereinafter referred to as “the Program”). The Program closely centers on the requirements of transformation and upgrading in tourism industry, with other successful experiences from other modern service industries as the reference, upgrading quality of service as the core, meeting the tourists’ demands as the orientation, improvement of tourism service quality system as the foundation and launching the projects for the quality upgrading of tourism services as the carrier so as to strengthen the regulation, supervision and management of quality of tourism services, continuously upgrade the quality of tourism services, constantly improve the quality of tourism industry and unremittingly raise the status of tourism industry in Chinese economic and social development and international competitiveness.

The Program points out that Chinese tourism service facilities have been continuously improved, service criteria have been ever-increasingly standardized, service capacity has been gradually strengthened, and quality of service has seen significant progress since the Reform and Opening-up. In order to further implement Quality Revitalization Program (1996-2010) and Several Opinions Concerning Accelerating the Development of Service Industry issued by the State Council, enhance the quality of tourism services on the whole, promote transformation and upgrading of the tourism industry and boost scientific development of the tourism industry, China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) has decided to carry out Program for Quality Upgrading of Tourism Services (2009-2015).

The Program clearly specifies that quality of tourism destination, service quality of tourism enterprises, self-discipline level of tourism industry, quality of Chinese tourists and other aspects will be upgraded in tourism industry from 2009 to 2015 so as to improve and upgrade tourism service quality system; overall tourism service quality upgrading project will be launched with the tourism brand-creating project, tourism quality theme event project, tourism standardization demonstration project, tourism talents training project, tourism service quality evaluation project, tourism informationization project and tourist guide service quality upgrading project as first priorities; the smooth implementation of the Program will be guaranteed in many aspects such as perfecting relevant laws, regulations and policies, strengthening the organization, coordination and policy incentives, tightening up the supervision of the quality of tourism services, vigorously pushing forward innovation in systems and mechanisms, formulating action plans for the quality upgrading of tourism services, etc.

In Circular Concerning Implementation of Program for Quality Upgrading of Tourism Services (2009-2015), China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) demands all tourism administrative authorities should attach great importance to the quality upgrading of tourism services, conscientiously devote to implementation of the Platform as an essential task in the firm and down-to-earth manner; strengthen organization, leadership, overall planning and coordination, establish the accountability system for the quality upgrading of tourism services, deploy and arrange for the implementation of the Program in the whole industry, give the enthusiasm of all circles into full play, further the quality upgrading of tourism services in an orderly way; in accordance with general requirements in the Program with serious consideration to the actual development situations of local tourism industry, all competent authorities should develop specific action plans and work programs, take relevant supporting measures, and ensure the implementation to achieve substantial results; should make full use of all forms of media to strengthen the propaganda and enforcement, put the Program into practice, expand influences, and strive to create a favorable atmosphere characterized by industry supervision grasping the quality, business operation stressing on the quality, consumers’ choices focusing on quality and social supervision appraising the quality.