By this autumn, travelers in Beijing will be able to choose travel agencies as easily as they would a star-rated hotel, tourism authorities announced on Thursday.

 

Director of Beijing Tourism Administration, Du Jiang, introduced the Classification and Appraisement on Travel Agencies at a press conference and detailed how it will function. The first group of travel agencies to receive star ratings will be announced in September.

 

Beijing's travel industry has grown quickly, now with 797 travel agencies offering 222 international travel services and 575 domestic. For 2006, total revenue for travel agencies in Beijing is 31.7 billion Yuan, an increase of 43% with a net gain of 2.4 billion, an increase of 64% during the same period last year.

 

But behind the impressive gains, establishing a standard credit system of travel agencies has been in demand. With thousands of agencies to choose from, customers are hard pressed to make the best choice.　　　

 

 

(CRIENGLISH.com April 14, 2007)