New law for travel agencies in SH

Local travel agencies will have to sign contracts with travelers before taking them to shopping spots or charging extra for separate events under a new travel regulation that was approved yesterday.

The new regulation, which was approved by the city's top legislative body, will come into effect in March. Under it, guides will have a black mark on their personal credit records if they fail to follow the law.

Travel agencies must also ensure travelers are not affected by changes abruptly made to tour schedules.

The black mark on the guides' credit database will influence bank loans, recruitment and applications for the city's residential certificates.

Meanwhile, all parks and tourism spots will no longer be allowed to increase their ticket price on their own. Any raise in ticket prices have to be approved by the tourism authority after evaluations, the regulation said.

The new regulation also stipulates that travel agencies must insist that passengers fasten their seat belts even on long-distance buses after some recent traffic accidents involving tourists' groups on nation's highways.

Six people were killed and over 40 injured when a bus overturned on Donghai Bridge last month.