Trial Operation of Outbound Tourism Business of Sino-foreign Joint Venture Travel Agencies Are Open to Qualified Candidates

Immediately after the promulgation of Interim Measurements on Supervision and Management of Trial Operation of Outbound Tourism Business of Sino-foreign Joint Venture Travel Agencies, which was jointed released by China National Tourism Administration and Ministry of Commerce in recent days, China National Tourism Administration made an announcement on www.cnta.gov.cn website, to initiate the assessment of applications for such trial operation by Sino-foreign Joint Venture Travel Agencies. This practice marks that Chinese tourism market is more open to foreign practitioners.

According to the Interim Measurements and the Announcement, some Sino-foreign joint venture travel agencies with outstanding records and sound management will be chosen from their counterparts to engage in the trial operation of outbound tourism business. For the time being, foreign solely-funded travel agencies are excluded from the candidate pool. If interested, qualified candidates out of the 17 existing Sino-foreign joint venture travel agencies should submit written applications to China National Tourism Administration prior to September 30, 2010 along with certification documents in accordance with provisions of Article VIII of Regulations on the Travel Agencies as provided by relevant tourism administration authorities in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government; photocopies of Travel Agency Practice License; Approval Certificate for Enterprise with Foreign Investment; Business License; as well as Business Report in Chinese Market of Previous Years. After auditing the application package of the candidates, relevant tourism administration authorities in provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the Central Government should submit written opinions in official documents to China National Tourism Administration.