Shanghai's tourism authorities warned neighborhoods to be wary of illegal travel agencies offering low prices on Thursday.

 

Because most people who participate in travel groups organized by neighborhoods are seniors, who may not be familiar with the laws, are vulnerable to being cheated and their safety on the trip cannot be guaranteed, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission said.

 

The warning followed the death in a traffic accident of a tourist on a trip to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province, among 53 residents from Pengpu Neighborhood in Zhabei District. The commission found that the Kanghua Travel Agency, which provided the tour, was illegal.

 

"We received several complaints in the first half of the year, saying that seniors received extremely bad service on a group tour organized by their neighborhood committee," said Jin Fang, deputy director of the commission.

 

Jin said illegal agencies usually charge 50 yuan (US$6.50) each for a one or two-day trip to surrounding provinces. But they don't provide any guide service and usually tourists have to buy tickets for scenic spots by themselves.

 

"Tourists have to bear bad food and bad hotels, and the so-called tour guides just lead them to stores that sell low-quality or fake products," said Jin.

 

"It's no difference paying 50 yuan for a return bus ticket."

 

Jin said the idea of neighborhood committees organizing travel for residents is good, but illegal tour agencies will spoil everything. He suggested legal agencies go to neighborhoods, telling people what a satisfactory journey should be like, and what sort of price is reasonable.

 

"The commission will also provide a consultation service for residents, telling seniors, in particular, how to distinguish illegal agencies from the legal ones," said Jin.

 

 

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2007)