It is not rare for holidaymakers to fall into traps set by illegal travel agencies promoting package tours at prices much lower than the market dictates. To curb such malpractice, the city’s tourism authority released a QR-code verification system Sunday that was developed to help consumers identify illicit travel agencies.
By scanning the QR code, which was developed by the tourism bureau with data provided by the supervision authority over travel agencies, residents are now able to access detailed information of the travel agencies they are considering for services.
With addresses, contact numbers, websites and other information provided via the verification system, residents can easily detect if the travel agencies are legal and trustworthy.
The system runs through WeChat. Residents need to scan the QR code to gain access to the system where they can enter the name of a travel agency they want to check and detailed information of the travel agency including its headquarters address, customer service hotline and the official website will be shown.
Compared to downloading a smartphone app, running the verification system through WeChat seems to be more convenient, the report said.
However, since the system does not have a Mini Program or a public WeChat account, users need to save it on their WeChat in order to access it frequently. Also, there is no English-language version of the system.
Currently, the QR code is only available on the business street near Gangxia Metro Station in Futian District. There will be more online and offline promotion of the QR code, especially in busy areas like the airport and high-speed train stations, according to a staffer with the tourism bureau.
Low-priced package tours are attractive to consumers, but many tourists have found that they were forced to spend money at designated shops during the trips. Although they are aware that the low-priced package tours are usually provided by unlicensed travel agencies, after returning from the trips the tourists find it difficult to protect their rights because the companies are not registered properly and hard to locate.
An insider from the travel business said it was difficult to eradicate unlicensed travel agencies as the punishment for the illegal businesses is not severe enough to keep them out of the market. The insider, identified as Zheng, said low prices also are appealing to consumers who have little awareness of protecting their rights.
Zheng said that it is difficult for consumers to tell if the tours are cost-effective or unreasonably cheap. For instance, a six-day tour to Thailand costs at least 3,000 yuan (US$448.43), so if the price is lower than this, some monopoly clauses might be hidden in the contract.
